Be sensible about memorials
By Gerald W. Henderson
Superintendent USD 408
At the October meeting of Marion Unified School District board of education a revised Crisis Management Plan was approved which provides direction for dealing with such things as bomb threats, unwanted intruders, bus accidents, and other possible crisis situations.
In a section dealing with the death of a student or staff member, the new plan discourages the use of brick and mortar or printed memorials as not being in the best interest of all children.
In preparing the board to make this change from past practice, I wrote a memo which included both the results of conversations with school administrators and school counselors from across the state and my own experiences from over the years. I share these thoughts with the larger community at a time when we are not facing a crisis in hopes that should we again face the circumstances of a death in our school community, thoughtful heads will prevail.
The most compelling argument against permanent, brick and mortar memorials is their potential effect on developing minds. In spite of all the efforts of our school staff to provide success experiences for young people, there will be those students who are depressed or who generally have a low self-esteem.
George (not his real name) was such a kid in a school I served as principal. George tried to play football and wrestle, but he never was very good. I think he never won a bout on the wrestling mat, and I am positive neither of his parents ever watched him wrestle or play football.
George struggled in school, but with help from several teachers and special education, he graduated with his class. George got a job working for one of the oil-related businesses in town and rented an apartment from Cathy and me. Only after George shot himself in the front seat of an old Chrysler he called "Christine" did we know all was not well in his young life.
The haunting aspect of George's death came when we learned of his interest in the memorials to former students which were displayed in the high school commons. Did George, in his simple mind, believe that a permanent memorial in the high school would provide his one chance for fame? I don't know, but I will always wonder.
Memorials included as a part of a facility or as part of a landscaping plan will eventually outlive their appropriateness or cease to be an attractive part of the facility or landscape. Bricks easily laid can be difficult to tear down.
I have heard of cases where the reason for the memorial has been forgotten, but the school was reluctant to remove the memorial.
The last time I was in the auditorium of Hutchinson High School I asked about a faded picture of a young man who died in the 70's. Nobody could tell me who he was.
Planting trees also can present problems. I know of one school that replaced a memorial tree three times before giving up. Even trees that live can at some point run afoul of the changing needs of the school and/or community.
The recommendation presented most often by the school people I visited with and the one adopted by the board in the new Crisis Management Plan favors the creation of a general memorial fund to which periodic contribution can be made.
The fund can be used for annual scholarships as directed by the memorial committee. Each year all of the names for whom contributions have been made can be listed in the commencement or awards assembly program. In this manner the person is never totally forgotten, but all of the problems of the brick and mortar memorials are avoided.
