Struthers parents concerned after students have to write obituary from overdose
An assignment given to 9th and 10th grade students in health class has some parents saying no child should have to write his or her own obituary, and absolutely not due to a heroin or drug overdose.
STRUTHERS, Ohio -
An assignment given to 9th and 10th-grade students in health class has some parents saying no child should have to write his or her own obituary, particularly not due to a heroin or drug overdose.
We talked with Struthers Superintendent Pete Pirone about the parent's concerns.
Prione emphasized, "The health lesson that was assigned also focused on students goals and achievements they want to accomplish in life. The intent is about making decisions and preventing drug abuse. The assignment was created by professors and students at YSU for high school students. The intent was not to make any assumptions that all students are going to die of a drug overdose or to upset students or parents Unfortunately the drug and opiate epidemic is a problem in Ohio and the country, so understanding decisions have consequences is important for students to understand."
A national survey states drug use of heroin by teens is at it's lowest level since 1991 or less than one percent of high school students used or have tried heroin.
We asked child psychologist Dr. David Chiarella about what impact the assignment could have on students.
"This could hit too close to home for some students. The assignment of writing an obituary has been around for years, however, the twist of death due to a heroin or drug overdose is new. It takes the focus away from accomplishments and puts it on an death. Students may know someone or have a relative who died from a drug overdose so that could create a sense of anxiety or trauma focused anxiety. In the case of a controversial assignment, the teacher should explain the exercise or activity and give kids a chance to voluntarily opt out by providing an alternative class assignment. I believe its important teachers give kids who completed the assignment a chance to talk about it afterward," Dr. Chiarella said.
We asked the Struthers superintendent if students would be allowed to opt out or if parents could do that.
Pierone said, "If any of the parents or students in the 9th and 10th grades who were given the assignment have an issue with it, they will be given an alternative assignment. They need to let the teacher or principal know or parents can send a note to school."
