Death Studies. 28: 289-308 2004 BrunnerRoutledge heaths ciencies ISSN: 0748-1187 print/1091-7683 online DOl:0.108007481180490432315 A PERSPECTIVE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF DEATH EDUCATION ①①①①①①①①①①①①①①如①①①的①①①①①①①①①①①①的①①如①①①①如①如①①① ⊥ ANNELORE WASS Gainesville. Florida. USA The authoroffers some views on the current state of death education with focus on the spar- ing attention given the death education of health professionals and of grief counselors. There is need for improved integration of the knowledge accumulated in the study of death schools. Facilitation of personal engagement woith the issue of mortality is an important component of the educate Various assessment problems are outlined and some uggestions for improvements are offered. The death education needs of various group including school age children andolderadults, are noted. The article contains a list of r reer ences, many not cited in the text, recommended for an extensive review of developments in It is satisfying to see this special issue of Death Studies devoted to honoring d remembering Herman Feifel, philosopher, psychologist, research cientist, professor, and the pivotal force in the death awareness move- ment and the development of the study of death. His achievement as prime mover and contributor to thanatology has been recognized by is colleagues through numerous honors and awards. The latest in his life was the "Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Application In paying tribute to Herman Feifel in a discussion of death education, it is fitting to note that he was the first modern death educator. The Received 25 August 2003; accepted 2 October 2003. Address correspondence to Hannelore Wass, 601x N.w.54th Way, Gainesville, FL $2653 E-mail: wass(@ nersp nerd ufl. edu By the American Psychological Foundation, 2001 289???????????????????????????????????????????????????? A PERSPECTIVE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF DEATH EDUCATION ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? HANNELORE WASS Gainesville, Florida, USA The author offers some views on the current state ofdeath education with focus on the spar￾ing attention given the death education of health professionals and of grief counselors. There is need for improved integration ofthe knowledge accumulated in the study of death, dying, and bereavement into the basic curricula of the parent disciplines and professional schools. Facilitation of personal engagement with the issue of mortality is an important component of the educative process.Various assessment problems are outlined and some suggestions for improvements are offered.The death education needs of various groups, including school age children and olderadults, are noted.The article contains alist of refer￾ences, many not cited in the text, recommended for an extensive review of developments in death education. It is satisfying to see this special issue of Death Studies devoted to honoring and remembering Herman Feifel, philosopher, psychologist, research scientist, professor, and the pivotal force in the death awareness move￾ment and the development of the study of death. His achievement as prime mover and contributor to thanatology has been recognized by his colleagues through numerous honors and awards. The latest in his life was the‘‘Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Application of Psychology.’’1 In paying tribute to Herman Feifel in a discussion of death education, it is fitting to note that he was the first modern death educator. The Received 25 August 2003; accepted 23 October 2003. Address correspondence to Hannelore Wass, 601X N.W. 54th Way, Gainesville, FL 32653. E-mail: wass@nersp.nerde.ufl.edu 1 By the American Psychological Foundation, 2001. 289 Death Studies, 28: 2897308, 2004 Copyright #Taylor & Francis Inc. ISSN: 0748-1187 print / 1091-7683 online DOI: 10.1080/07481180490432315