Today Is Grim Reaper Day At DD's School

[Feralpeg]

This morning, one of the teachers at DD's high school will go to selected classrooms and pull out about 100 students. The teacher will be dressed as the Grim Reaper. The selected students are taken to a room where their faces will be painted white. For the remainder of the day, these students will not be allowed to talk or interact with any other students. During the last period of the day, the Grim Reaper will walk the halls ringing a bell and shouting "Bring Forth The Dead". The selected students will get up and leave their classrooms. This is an annual event at DD's school sponsored by MADD. It really gives me the creeps. I support the point they are trying to make with the kids, but it just creeps me out. They've also put what is left of a car that was driven by a student who died in a wreck a couple of years ago on the front lawn of the school. There is a large picture of her in front of it. Her parents are very supportive of the action, although no alcohol was involved in her death. Isn't it sad that the school has to go to such lengths to get the message across to kids that cars are potentially lethal weapons.

 

[Cindy B]

We had a car in front of my high school lawn as well.

The grim reaper is a bit much though. Now, do they still go to classes? Are they pulled away from learning or just speaking?

What would happen if a student refuses? How many students are having anxiety if they are picked?

 

[stinkerbelle]

wow...very creepy.

I've seen the demolished car outside of highschools (including my own years ago) right around prom/graduation time sponsored by MADD...

But I really don't understand the reason behind the "walking dead"...very very strange. JMO though.

 

[bananiem]

They do it here. The kids that are being pulled out know it ahead of time. I think the idea of them not talking to others is for the kids that are "still alive" to realize so-and-so might not be here, etc.
We knew a couple who's son was asked to be one of the ones who "die." They were even asked to write his obituary.
I think for some kids it makes an impact for that day or a week but if they want to drink I don't think this will make them stop.

 

[chesirechik]

They did this every year in my high school. The kids always knew ahead of time. It really freaked me out my freshman year, but also made a lot of kids really think about drinking and driving. I think it's a good thing to do. Teenagers needs something that in their face to make them realize things sometimes.

 

[Disney Doll]

Anxiety for a day is better than dead forever.

I think it's a great idea.

 

[buddy&wooz]

I don't think stuff like this works, though. Sure, it might creep out or frighten the kids for awhile, but fast-forward through time a bit, and chances are the kids will start joking and laughing about "Grim Reaper Day", it will lose it's impact.

 

[Feralpeg]

The kids that will be picked do know about it ahead of time. The others don't know who it will be. They still go to classes.

 

[wendyl]

YIKES---too over the top IMO.

I think bringing forward 100 students to illustrate a percentage of the student population that "statistically" are in danger of dying in a drunk driving accident is fine---but the theatrics and "over the top" display are too much. It glamorizes the dead--and after teaching teens, I can totally see how student would LOVE to be chosen by the grim reaper and get to appear dead for a day---not something you want to encourage or promote---sending the message that being dead gets you attention--it's a bad idea.

 

[SeaShelley]

This sounds like the "Every 15 Minutes" program that our local high schools do. It's sponsored in part by the local MADD and DARE programs. The grim reaper comes into the school and takes out several preselected students. The kids are then part of the "accident". Two vehicles are involved; some students live, some die, some are paralized, etc. Parents are called to come to the "scene" and identify their children and then the hearse arrives with the local funeral director. The driver is taken to court and "funerals" are held. Caskets are brought in.....thankfully they are empty.

It's quite an elaborate program, but if it saves a life and makes kids stop and think before getting behind the wheel, then it is worth every cent!

 

[Pam]

I'm sorry but I think it's a horrible and disgusting idea.

Our HS (I have two teens there) has lost 9 students in the past 2 years to accidents and illness (the last one over Thanksgiving weekend). The students have attended the funerals - the students who died have younger siblings still in school - not to mention all of their friends and teachers - this is something that would fester raw wounds and emotions if it was done at our school.

 

[kimber79]

I stronly agree with wendyl............to over the top.

I know my kids would not be in school on *Grim Reaper Day*. I do see the message that they are trying to convey, but I think it is way too much JMHO. In our school district we do a DARE program with our 5th graders, and then they have a drunk driving section in class freshman year.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I have to say, I have never heard of this, and really wouldn't want to participate in something like this.

 

[AZKathy]

Ooohhh....ick! If they have this at my DS's high school, I will be allowing him to stay home that day. I don't mind the one where they set up a fake accident with the senerio acted out, but I don't like the Grim Reaper Day thing.

 

[mom2boys]

There is a full page spread in our local paper today covering such an event at a local high school. They did the accident scene & the grim reaper. They showed a boy with his face painted white. He was wearing a black t shirt that siad ?today I died" it also had a clock on it with every 15 minutes...

I like the message but I know I wouldn't want my kids to be active participants - I surely wouldn't write a mock obituary or agree to be called to the scene of a mock accident

 

[Melora]

We've lost several kids at my girls high school in the past few years. None were alcohol related except for one and it was the other lady driving her car. She hit the girls car from behind and knocked it into the intersection and into a pole killing her. Happened right in front of the school as kids were gettign out. The drunk woman of course was OK.

We've lost 2 kids to cancer and 2 other kids to an accident where they lost control of their car but no drugs were involved. The kids at our school know about loss unfortunately...

 

[WeirdEyes]

My son's school does this every year also. It is also called, "Every 15 Seconds." It has a great impact on the kids and I support it all the way. My son actually thinks it is great also.

 

[CamColt]

Yikes! While I totally agree with the smashed car, or what Ive seen done, a staged accident(complete with paramedics rushing the injured and bleeding students away), I think the Grim Reaper thing is a bit much.
To me, the car or accident thing shows what can really happen and can make an impact, whereas the Grim Reaper is just freaky...or at least a little too freaky for me.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by buddy&wooz
I don't think stuff like this works, though. Sure, it might creep out or frighten the kids for awhile, but fast-forward through time a bit, and chances are the kids will start joking and laughing about "Grim Reaper Day", it will lose it's impact.

I agree, I also think it's over the top.

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

When I was in high school I participated in SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and this was something that was doen every year except it wasn't called Grimm Reaper.

I think it is a little gruesome but as a student and seeing this first hand it was an eye opening experience, it made me think a little more about the consequences of drinking and driving.

I also feel that sometimes we have to be so truthful to the point that it may hurt with these types of subjects. If Our kids don't see first hand what can happen they don't think twice about doing whatever it is.