Death education doesn't begin in a school. It begins when you watch a leaf fall from a tree, when you see a dead animal in the street, when you pass by a cemetery. They see the killing, the murdering, but they don't see the aftermath of normal people grieving. Many people are surprised by your belief that children as young as seven should be allowed to attend funerals. McNamara, there's a casket.
Children understand their inclusion far better than their exclusion.
Anything that is mentionable is much more manageable. It's not only good for the kids, it's also good for the adults. When people see a little kid, a grandchild, playing in the middle of the floor at a wake, it's the best therapy in the world. It's the continuity of life. This must have been a difficult subject for you to deal with as a young clergyman.