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[kurochan]

So here's a serious question:

Several of my students (past and present) were involved in that 4/4 boat accident in Suzhou.  Some were injured and some were witnesses.  What do I do in class now? 

On the first day after the accident I taught a regular class, because I thought it would be good for students to focus on something else and maintain some sort of normalcy. I just told them at the end to hang in there and I was looking forward to seeing them next time. 

I'm trying to figure out what to do from now on.  My thinking was not to talk about it much, but to give them the option of writing about it to express their feelings.  It's a writing class, and I am going to keep it pretty light for the next week or so.  I have prepared some things for them to write about in class, and will also give them the accident as one of the topics, so they can get out any feelings they want to express.  I'll also tell them that what they write will be completely confidential.  I feel like that might be good for them, and to have them do it in class where they are amongst friends would be better than have them write about something emotional at home.

Really, I feel sort of at a loss and overwhelmed, because the accident was serious and super-gory, plus the school has not given much information about it.  I finally got a list of students who were there yesterday after sending a forceful e-mail (which I was scolded for).  It's hard to know what to say.  Apparently, a student's face was ripped in half, and the two parts were found 20 meters apart, and kids who were there begged the boat captains to go back to try to retrieve two students who went overboard, but they refused.  What am I supposed to say to the students about that?  There is no way I can fix anything or reassure them.  I'm not sure what to do.

[opiate]

I would not make it a (forced) topic. I am not familiar with the accident but I know I would not be thrilled if I were asked to write something so personal. Also, it seems like a very difficult topic as far as language and expression. I think it may not be as cathartic as you hope.

[AMonk]

For those of us not dialed into all things Suzhou, can you tell us what happened in the boat accident?

Don't know if you can see/read this, but the basic info is here...

http://newscontent.cctv.com/news.jsp?fileId=137565

[Calach Pfeffer]

From When Tragedy Strikes (which is about "critical incidents", events that "[challenge] the very heart of a school community, its identity and its coping mechanisms," and is thus probably way more than is needed):

❐ You cannot get it right all the time, but how you deal with mistakes is important.
Be humble and ask how things could have been said or done differently.
❐ If you are unsure what to say or do, it is alright to ask the child what s/he needs.
❐ Be respectful of the child’s privacy. If you need to talk about the incident to staff
and pupils discuss it with the child in the first instance.
❐ Never force a child talk about an incident but creating opportunities for doing
so is important.
❐ Never make a child draw or write specifically about an incident but create
opportunities for doing so by choosing general titles and giving choice.
❐ Wherever possible, take the focus off a distressed child by generalising and
drawing in other children’s stories and experiences.
❐ Don’t rush, let the child be your guide. Use age appropriate language.
❐ Children do not want to be constantly observed and analysed – they soon know
when every action is being watched.
❐ Check you know what a child’s question is really about, keep answers simple,
check their understanding and encourage future questions.
❐ Deal with fantasies not based on fact. Don’t misinform or use euphemisms. Be
sensitive to the fact that parents often do because of distress or ignorance.
Parents may need to be helped to deal with problems created for both the child
and teacher as a result of misinformation.
❐ Be genuine – don’t act. If you can’t cope with distress, acknowledge this and
offer to help find someone who can cope.
❐ Be matter-of-fact, avoid confusion, talk in concrete terms not abstract terms.
❐ Watch for opportunities within ordinary class work where coping and support
can be reinforced and problems anticipated. This work is often very opportunistic and low-key.
❐ Don’t be afraid to mention the name of a dead sibling or friend as children
notice when you do this. By mentioning the dead, children will know that they
are significant and will not be forgotten should they die.
❐ Use your own support systems to discuss any problems, uncertainties and distress.
❐ Ask children what helps and what doesn’t

[kurochan]

The whole thing was horrifying.  A brief account of what happened is that the students were on a boat and the driver tried to speed between two boats, not realizing one was towing the other with a metal cable.  The metal cable sheared off the top of the boat the students were riding in.  My student, who was interviewed on TV, said the students started screaming for the man to turn, but he froze up and didn't.  He (the boy in my class), saw the tour guide dying in front of him. 

In total, four people died and three were injured.  Twenty students or so from the school witnessed what happened. 

I really don't feel it would make sense just to go on like nothing happened in a classroom where some people are missing, and some people saw somebody's head get ripped apart.  I feel like letting them write about it if they want to, but letting them focus on other things if they would prefer might be a good "happy medium" way to deal with it. 

Just for more info., the students are like 19.  They were really upset the last time we had class.  *Sigh*

[teacheraus]

I hear what you are saying but it is probably also important in this to recognise in this that you are a foreign teacher and not personally responsible for this (unless you are the only teacher that this class has). It is very easy to actually do more harm than good in dealing with traumatic incidents like this unless you are personally experienced in helping students to deal with such events especially when you are working in a cross-cultural setting like this one.  I think if I was in your position, before I touched on this at all in the classroom I would be talking to the Chinese teachers who teach these students or getting advice from your supervisor.

[zero]

In my opinion, you have no role here, but to teach them English.

This is the mainland view on risk-taking, safety and compassion played out in dramatic fashion. Sad, but completely unsurprising.

[Stil]

I have had a couple of situations similar to this in China. A suicide and a missing girl (turned out to be nothing). When this or any other upsetting situation happens (Wenchuan for example), I will acknowledge it at the beginning of class and remind them that they may contact me outside of class if they want to talk.

Many students do. Especially by text or email. There's a kind of safety sometimes in talking to the foreign teacher if trusted because the conversation or even the fact that there was a conversation is easier to keep private and when they believe their thinking is not 'normal' they may be much more comfortable talking to us.

I mostly just listen.

i teach college age.

[El Macho]

+1 to Stil and zero. I wouldn't assign it as a writing topic. If you want to make yourself available, do so, but don't impose the subject onto the class.

It would be really hard to come up with lessons that seem appropriate after that.

[babala]

When I was in grade 10 in high a student had a mental breakdown and shot 4 other students and then himself. The shooter was in my homeroom and we used to do homework together and I knew all the other boys as well. They brought in grief counselors and the teachers let us know that they too were also available if anyone wanted to talk. I think this is the best way. Let them know they can talk to you but don't force a writing assignment on them. People deal with tragedy in different ways. I would have been extremely angry back then if a teacher had made me write about what happened.

[Ruth]

I had a similar situation as Babala when I was in high school. The kid with the gun (who killed himself as well as three others) was in a club I also belonged to. Another club member was shot but didn't die. Counselors were provided if we wanted to talk. I don't think anyone in my clique went to counseling. We DID talk about it a lot amongst ourselves - providing therapy in our own 15-16 year-old-way, I guess.

Last November there was a murder on my campus. On the afternoon of the murder (it happened in the morning) there were CSI people in and out of a bathroom that could be seen from my classroom window. It was during that class that we were informed a girl had died in there that morning. Massive freaking out. Rumors escalated. The kids (uni juniors, aged 20ish) were scared, reasonably so. I addressed the situation, told them we didn't have any details yet, and that we shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. Then I went on with class.

Then we found out that she had been murdered. Another FT and I talked about how to handle it. We both had classes in that building the next day. He opted to take his guitar and take his students outside and basically scrap class and let the students relax, sing and talk if they wanted. I stayed in the classroom, but addressed safety issues. I gave my students (mostly girls) tips on how to get away if they ever found themselves in that situation. It seemed to help. I also allowed them to talk if they wanted to. Then I went on with class as usual. Writing class, BTW, but I didn't ask them to write about it.

The third day I had different groups of students. Again, I asked them if they wanted to talk about it. They did. They told me that none of their Chinese teachers were talking about it. They were scared and the officials were not giving out any information. 10-15 minutes at the beginning of class, if they wanted, and then on with class. I also made myself available after class for those who wanted to talk more.

The guy turned himself in on the evening of the third day, so there was less fear after that. The students themselves organized a memorial.

The situation in Suzhou is different, of course. Personally, I wouldn't give writing about it as an assignment. I would ask them as a class if they wanted to talk about it as a group. If not, I would offer myself as someone to talk to privately outside of class for anyone who feels the need. What Stil said, sometimes they talk to FTs because we are somehow 'safer' at telling secrets to.

[kurochan]

Hi --

In the end, I ended up not doing the "you can write about the accident if you want to" thing.  I talked to an older student about it, and she advised against it.  Apparently there is a school psychologist who talked to the students, which I've never heard of before here -- when people I know had a student die, the school always just ignored it, didn't talk to the students about it, and acted like nothing happened, even though suddenly there was an empty desk in the middle of the classroom where just days before there had been a classmate.  The sophomore year students organized a memorial service for the kids too, which they felt would help the freshmen let out their emotions and cope with everything better. 

I just ended up postponing a quiz the sophomores were supposed to have the day before the memorial and the freshmen were supposed to have the day after, since one group was so busy they couldn't review, and the freshmen were still really emotional.  We watched an enjoyable film one day, and now we're back to normal classes.  I'm mostly going to keep an eye on the students who I know were especially upset, and on the student who was injured, who is back in class despite getting a concussion. 

[AMonk]

That is most likely the best solution   You are a wise, loving teacher

[old34]

That is most likely the best solution  You are a wise, loving teacher

Ditto that.   

[Fozzwaldus]

That is most likely the best solution  You are a wise, loving teacher

Ditto that.