Feedback from the Columbine Memorial Planning Committee
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Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2008-07-15 Planning School Memorials: Feedback from the Columbine Memorial Planning Committee Rebecka Dawn Bingham Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Counseling Psychology Commons, and the Special Education and Teaching Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Bingham, Rebecka Dawn, "Planning School Memorials: Feedback from the Columbine Memorial Planning Committee" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 1458. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1458 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. PLANNING SCHOOL MEMORIALS: FEEDBACK FROM THE COLUMBINE MEMORIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE by Rebecka D. Bingham A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Educational Specialist Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education Brigham Young University August 2008 Copyright © 2008 Rebecka D. Bingham All Rights Reserved BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Rebecka D. Bingham This thesis has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. _____________________________ ________________________________ Date Melissa Allen Heath, Chair _____________________________ ________________________________ Date Marleen Williams _____________________________ ________________________________ Date Rachel Crook Lyon BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY As chair of the candidate’s graduate committee, I have read the thesis of Rebecka D. Bingham in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographical style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library. _____________________________ ________________________________ Date Melissa Allen Heath, Chair Accepted for the Department _____________________________ ________________________________ Date Ellie Young Graduate Coordinator Accepted for the College _____________________________ ________________________________ Date Barbara Culatta Associate Dean, McKay School of Education ABSTRACT PLANNING SCHOOL MEMORIALS: FEEDBACK FROM THE COLUMBINE MEMORIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE Rebecka D. Bingham Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education Educational Specialist in School Psychology On April 20, 1999, twelve students and one faculty member were shot and killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. The two shooters also died. Today, over nine years after the tragedy, the community continues to heal and cope with their loss. Rather than investigating the actual tragedy, this study focused on perceptions of three leaders representing the Columbine Memorial Planning Committee, summarizing their responses to 9 questions related to planning the Columbine Memorial. Now completed, the memorial invites students; families; the community of Littleton, Colorado; and the world to never forget this loss or precious life. This memorial represents a positive avenue for coping with their tragedy, the loss of loved ones, and the violence perpetrated on their school and community. The leaders’ feedback is important to consider and provides direction and insight for other schools coping with similar trauma. Additionally, previous research on the topic of planning memorials is extremely limited, even more so for school-based memorials. More information is needed to guide practice. As a starting point, this thesis provides a brief overview of childhood and adolescent grief, a historical overview of how national tragedies involving children have been memorialized, and subsequently an initial investigation focusing on planning the Columbine Memorial. After reviewing and summarizing the committee members’ responses, a list of suggestions are proposed to guide schools in planning memorials. The discussion section compares and contrasts the planning committee’s feedback with previous information provided by the National Association of School Psychologists and other publications related to children and memorials. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for all of the blessings in my life, including the opportunity to further my education. Second, I am extremely grateful to Melissa Heath for her tireless efforts, valuable direction, and helpful editing. I would also like to thank the other members of my committee for their flexibility and support. Third, I want to express my appreciation to my mother for always being there. Finally, I am thankful to the members of the Columbine Memorial Committee for their efforts and their willingness to share their experiences with others. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT …………………………………………………...…………………………… v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………………….. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………………....... viii INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………….……... 1 LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………………………. 3 Childhood and Adolescent Grief ………………………..………………………….…... 3 Younger Children’s Grief …………………………..……………………………. 3 Adolescents’ Grief ………………………………….………….……………….... 4 Manifestations of Grief ………………..………………….……………………………. 4 Factors Impacting the Severity of Grief ………………………………….……..... 5 Tasks of Grieving ………………………………………………………….…....... 5 Gender Differences in Children’s Grief ………………………………….…….... 6 The Importance of Remembering in Children’s Grief………………………..….…….. 9 Historical Overview: Supporting Children after a Disaster……………...………….... 11 Collinwood, Ohio: Memorial Garden……………………………………..…….. 11 Bath, Michigan: Statue of Girl with a Kitten….………………………....….…... 12 Rusk County, Texas: New London Museum………………...…………...……… 14 Washington, DC: Holocaust Museum, Daniel’s Story………….………………... 16 Hiroshima, Japan: Statue of Sadako……………………………………….……... 17 Washington, DC: Vietnam Veterans Memorial ….……………………………… 18 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: National Memorial………………….…………….. 18 Planning Memorials: Types and Stages of Memorials ……………………………….. 19 ix Spontaneous Memorials…………………………………………..….………….. 19 Internet Memorial Sites………………………………………………………...... 21 Challenges in Planning Memorials…………………………………………….... 21 Statement of Problem…………………………………………………………….……. 23 Statement of Purpose…………………………………………………………………... 23 Research Question ……………………………………………………………………. 23 Importance of Study …………………………………………………………………... 24 METHODS ……………………………………………………………………………........ 26 Participants …………………………………………………………………………… 26 Questionnaire ………………………………………………………………………… 27 Coding Participants’ Responses ……………………………………………………… 29 Developing Recommendations: Lessons Learned ……………………………...……. 30 RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………………. 31 Summary of Responses ………………………………………………………………. 31 Responses to Question 1………………………………………………………….. 31 Responses to Question 2………………………………………………………….. 32 Responses to Question 3………………………………………………………….. 34 Responses to Question 4………………………………………………………….. 35 Responses to Question 5………………………………………………………….. 35 Responses to Question 6………………………………………………………….. 38 Responses to Question 7………………………………………………………….. 39 Responses to Question 8………………………………………………………….. 41 Responses to Question 9…………………………………...……………………... 41 x The Columbine Memorial: Insights from Publications and Internet Resources ……... 44 Littleton, Colorado………………………………………………………………. 44 Religious Component of the Memorial……………………….………………… 44 Reminders of the Tragedy ………………………………………………………. 46 Functional Memorials: The Atrium and Library………………………………… 47 Columbine High School ……………………………………….………………... 48 Columbine’s Permanent Memorial ……………………………………………….…... 49 Memorial Committee ……………………………………………………………. 50 Memorial Committee’s Goals ………………...………………………………… 50 Design of Columbine Memorial ………………………………………………… 51 Columbine Memorial and the Tasks of Grieving ……………………………………. 52 Controversy of the Post Dedication ………………………………………………….. 53 DISCUSSION ……………………………………………………………………………… 56 Caveats…..…………………………………………………………………………….. 56 Suggestions for Memorial Planning Committees ……………………………………. 57 Encouraging Spontaneous Memorials ………….……………….………………. 57 Prioritizing Needs……………………………………………….……………….. 58 Forming a Committee……………………………………………………………. 58 Expanding Beyond the Temporary Memorial…………………………………… 59 Fundraising………………………………………………………………………. 59 Avoiding Deadlines and Rushing: The Importance of Patience…………………. 60 Feedback ………………………………………………………………….…………… 60 Student Feedback ……………………………………………………………….. 61 xi Words of Encouragement ………………………………………………………. 61 Limitations…………………………………………………………………………..… 61 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..… 62 REFERENCES ………………………………………………….……………………..…… 63 APPENDIX A Letter of Consent...........…………………………………...…………….... 72 APPENDIX B Questionnaire/Survey .....................................................................………. 73 APPENDIX C Handout: Planning Memorials: Considerations for Schools....……….….. 75 APPENDIX D Columbine Memorial Inscriptions .................................................………. 77 xii LIST OF TABLES 1. Initial Planning, Driving Forces, & Student Involvement Question