School uncomfortable with DCs work experience placement.

[charliepaytonsmum]

So my daughter (15) has chosen to do her work experience (placement not with school, we arranged it ourselves, which is allowed) she has chosen to go to a funeral home, for a few reasons and non of them particularly morbid. She thinks it's important to understands what happens to your body after you die and how death is handled because (her words) nobody talks about it but thats because maybe they don't know them selves. She thinks it's important to be aware and understand as to not be so afraid of death. She also hates that fact that's its a very male dominated industry and even in today's society its rare for funeral homes to employ women, especially the old family run ones. The funeral home she will be attending is female owned and run (and the ownder is a good friend of my Aunt), and it is the only female owned funeral home in the city and as far as I know surrounding areas. She's wants to learn from this owner in particular as she was rejected by every funeral home in our city when she first started out so decided to open her own. My daughter is not looking to satisfy some morbid curiosity, she really believes that this is an important fact of life that everyone should know and its all very matrer of fact and scientific for her. We went to the funeral home for an informal chat and look around to make sure she was comfortable in the environment and was comfortable discussing her expectations and reasons why she wanted to do this, all without my input or help. School said they were uncomfortable with it and don't want her to be traumatised but I know the owners aren't going to put her in a traumatic situation and I trust them completely. They said that they weren't sure that she was emotional ready what ever that means, maybe the fact that sometimes at school she gets over stimulated and has had a couple small panic attacks but this is due to crowds, louds noises particularly noise associated with crowds and people, which is obviously not going be be an issue is a small quiet funeral home. I know iv rambled a bit but I suppose my query is can they actually lagally stop her from doing this. In the UK.

I agree with this. I know two people who worked for funeral directors as soon as they left school at 16. They've both done well in their careers in the industry. I'm sure they will be very sensitive to the needs of their clients and your daughter as well.
Your daughter sounds fab.

I think your daughter sounds great and very mature for her age. If she thinks she wants to pursue a career in this profession, it makes sense for her to do work experience with a funeral home. It’s a much better use of our time than going to somewhere she’s no interest in like a local garden centre!

I personally wouldn’t be bothered by a young person being present whilst I was organising a funeral or visiting a relative, as long as they were respectful. I experienced a lot of death as a child and helped my mum organise my dad’s funeral when I was 12 because she couldn’t cope, it’s just another part of life to me and it’s important young people understand that too.

Could they provide a list of what she will and won’t do to the school to reassure them the duties will be appropriate?

@charliepaytonsmum I did work experience on an elderly persons ward when i was 16 (year 11) - only bringing tea, food, talking to patients and obviously there were people dying whilst I was there, its not something that distressed me in the way it might have upset some 16 year olds so I think it is very individual and dependant on maturity of the person. Learning how to talk about how you feel when you see something that does upset you is however really important ,if she able to do this?

P.S, it may be more reflective of the teachers attitude to death ,many adults don't deal well with death and dying so they could struggle to understand how a teenager may cope differently.

Very surprised it's allowed for an under 16 - there are so many insurance loopholes for businesses to work through for work experience these days.

I would also be surprised if someone could work at a funeral home at age 16 (again, these days), unless there is an apprenticeship scheme or something. In England you need to be in full time education until 18.

Totally agree.