John Adams, president of the National Association of Funeral Directors, has pulled off a brilliant campaign. His aim is to get grief education added to the school curriculum in every school across the UK. This success is the result of years of personal and professional commitment. It started with a devastating loss he experienced early in his life. Adams lost his mother, Maria, at the tender age of 12. This heartbreaking account was a catalyst in his realization of the need to fill a major void in how schools approach death and the grieving process.
For much of his youth, he was discouraged by the lack of conversation around death, especially in schools. When his father spoke on the subject, that was an example of the opposite, that contrast really emphasizing our need for conversation about grief. “My mum, Maria, has been the fuel for the whole of this process and campaign – she’s pushed me on,” Adams stated, emphasizing his mother’s lasting influence on his mission.
In 2022, Adams saw an opportunity to take action, so he created and circulated a parliamentary petition to raise support for grieving education. The petition received overwhelming support, quickly reaching more than 11,000 signatures and reflecting a deep public commitment to activism for change. He articulated his goals during various speaking engagements throughout the year, repeatedly emphasizing the need for schools to equip students with emotional literacy related to grief.
It may be hard to overstate what this week was for Adams and his campaign — a watershed moment. In June, the Department for Education published new statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education. This guidance finally paves the way for grieving education to become an institutionalized facet of the school curriculum.
Reflecting on this accomplishment, Adams shared, “It’s been relentless. I haven’t stopped; it’s become who I am. So it’s a moment to pause and reflect on what’s been achieved.” He expressed an awareness that further work lies ahead: “I’m aware there’s more work to do now – it’s about what it looks like in the curriculum.”
Adams believes that understanding grief is crucial, stating, “The idea of it is that we have more of an idea of the emotions that are affiliated with when someone dies. It’s the only guarantee in life, and therefore we should be more informed about what these emotions are and how we deal with them.” He underscored the necessity of incorporating a foundational level of grief education in schools: “Having a base level within school, I recognize that’s where it needs to start.”
