The PEI school is facing backlash over plans to remove memorials to deceased students

A central Prince Edward Island school's decision to do away with tributes to deceased students has caused families to question the decision, sparked online backlash and even reached the floor of the legislative assembly.

Valerie Harrington's son Aidan died in 2016. She says her son was a good student and a dedicated athlete, but jumped to his death while experimenting with psychedelic substances because he believed he could fly.

Aidan attended Kensington Intermediate Senior High, and after his death, his friends gathered to name a football field in his honor. But now Harrington said she has been told the sign with Aidan's name will come down. She said the school cited a new policy from the Department of Public Schools calling for the removal of permanent memorials on school property.

“As a mother, it's very disturbing from many perspectives,” Harrington said.

Relatives of PEI students who died too young raised concerns about schools removing their memorials

Families of former students who died while attending Kensington Intermediate Senior High say they received notices from the school earlier this month saying memorials to their loved ones may be removed. It all has to do with a policy change from the Public Schools Department.

“For me, I thought it was a fitting memorial for him because he was so involved in the football community… but I also feel sorry for his friends because this was something they did to commemorate Aidan and they thought about it for a long time what would happen.” are appropriate.”

Kensington Intermediate Senior High has also decided to remove a tribute wall containing the names and photos of students and teachers who died while living or working at the school. Instead, the memorial will be moved online to the school's website.

That decision led to dozens of social media posts Wednesday morning — including some from family members of those hanging on the wall — and an online petition with more than 1,500 signatures.

'A very difficult subject'

PEI's Department of Public Schools addressed the response on Wednesday.

Acting deputy director Dominique Lecours said the PSB would seek feedback on new draft procedures that are based on recommendations from the U.S.-based National Association of School Psychologists and match what is being done in neighboring Canadian provinces.

“We are all affected by the deaths of students,” she said. “We know it's a very difficult subject.”

The feedback period starts on December 2. In the meantime, Lecours says the PSB is asking principals to have a conversation with families whose children are currently being memorialized, to emphasize that the new process is “still tailored to honoring and memorializing those students.”

We're not trying to erase anything. We're just trying to find a way that better fits current practice.— Dominique Lecours, Public Schools Department

She added: “We're not trying to erase anything. We're just trying to find a way that better reflects current practice.”

Lecours said current research shows that seeing daily reminders of past deaths can be detrimental to the mental health of some students, especially if the loss is recent.

“In our training and in the research with the National School Association of Psychologists, they would say this can be very difficult, to help students process and heal from the loss of a loved one.”

Considering the possible damage

In a statement to CBC News, the National Association of School Psychologists said it is not making a blanket recommendation to abolish memorials in schools. However, the school safety and crisis preparedness curriculum does include issues that schools should consider when creating policies regarding such honors.

“When a tragedy occurs at a school, memorials can be a way for students, staff and the community to express grief, normalize feelings and listen to students' questions,” the statement reads.

With the potential to evoke strong emotions and the possibility of contagion, schools must consider the potential harm in addition to the desire to commemorate a person who has died in the community.– US-based National Association of School Psychologists

“With the potential to evoke strong emotions and the possibility of contagion, schools must consider the potential for harm in addition to the desire to commemorate a person who has died in the community.

“Schools must consider a variety of factors, including cause of death, when determining policies for their communities to minimize harm, support those grieving and recognize the impact of the event.”

'A solution in search of a problem'

Kensington-Malpeque MLA Matthew MacKay raised the issue during question period at the PEI Legislature on Tuesday, asking Education Minister Rob Lantz if he was aware of Kensington High School's decision and what actions he planned to take.

Lantz responded that he had only been informed of the situation on Tuesday, and that neither he nor Department of Education staff had been consulted about the move. But he vowed to investigate the matter with school staff and called the decision “disturbing” for the families of those on the wall.

“It seems like a solution in search of a problem. I honestly don't understand what we are trying to achieve with this. It seems like we are trying to make sure that the children don't encounter anything bad in this life,” Lantz said in the legislature.

“If we try to create resilience in children, which of course we do, there will be obstacles, unpleasant situations will arise.”

Our natural instinct is to protect our children, but I believe we also need to equip them with skills to deal with life's events.– Valerie Harrington, Aidan's mother

On Wednesday, Souris-Elmira MLA Robin Croucher also stood up in the legislature and called the decision “unacceptable” as he made his opening statement.

“Memorial walls are a fitting and beautiful way to commemorate those we loved and the beautiful lives they once lived,” Croucher said. “If we do not learn and grow from these losses, we will have betrayed those who died too young.”

'It gives us a reason'

As for Aidan's family, they say they are struggling to understand the school's decision.

“I think it's okay that it's disturbing… I think it's a difficult subject, but I think that's what makes it important,” said Hannah Harrington, Aidan's younger sister.

“I know it's hard, but maybe there's a way to go about it that involves having more of those hard conversations, more mental health support and ways to cope. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't celebrate those individuals.”

The Harrington family say they would be disappointed if memorials like Aidan's were removed.

“I hope that all the memorials can remain. As parents, our natural instinct is to protect our children, but I think we also need to teach them how to deal with life's events,” said Valerie Harrington.

“I think people can learn from these kids, who were leaders and role models in the community, to maybe not repeat their mistakes. And if someone learns from Aidan's death and doesn't take those mushrooms, then that gives us a reason for it.”