Category:
Death
Death
Death Ed
In the early 1970s, inspired by the introduction of Sex Education classes, some religious leaders and funeral directors suggested adding Death Education classes to high school curriculums. And apparently such classes were introduced, for a while, at some schools.
The Raleigh Register Beckley Post-Herald - Aug 14, 1971
The book Mind and Society Fads, by Frank Hoffmann and William Bailey, offers some info about how Death Education classes were conducted:
High school students were asked to select one literary passage concerning death that most closely reflected their personal belief. The images ran the gamut from those of utter destruction to immense delight in death. Next, elementary school children compiled a scrapbook of newspaper clippings that classified the causes of death, especially the ones that most affected elementary school-aged populations. For high school and above, students completed a personal death inventory, answering such questions as, "Are you afraid of death?" "Have you made plans for your final days?" and "Do you believe that there are people to whom you wish to make peace with, express gratitude to, praise, thank, or express love to prior to your death?"...
Death education classes also required students to write position papers on a controversial death issue, study cryogenics, debate the religious aspects of death, play "Run For Your Life" — what would you do if you only had a limited time to live, and envision what might precipitate the deathblow(s) to earth...
Paradoxically, teaching children and adolescents about death has not raised parental hackles like sex education. During the same time that death education (i.e., the most morbid aspect of living) struggled for a foothold, classroom instruction about sexuality (i.e., the most vivid aspect of living) met with considerable resistance.
Death education classes also required students to write position papers on a controversial death issue, study cryogenics, debate the religious aspects of death, play "Run For Your Life" — what would you do if you only had a limited time to live, and envision what might precipitate the deathblow(s) to earth...
Paradoxically, teaching children and adolescents about death has not raised parental hackles like sex education. During the same time that death education (i.e., the most morbid aspect of living) struggled for a foothold, classroom instruction about sexuality (i.e., the most vivid aspect of living) met with considerable resistance.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Dec 29, 2021 -
Comments (5)
Category: Death, Education
The death of an anti-seatbelt crusader
Jan 2005: Three months after writing an article in a student newspaper denouncing seatbelt laws as intrusions on individual liberties, Derek Kieper died when a vehicle he was in skidded off an icy road into a ditch. Two others in the car, who were wearing seatbelts, survived. Derek, however, was not wearing a seatbelt.I don't know if Kieper ever officially won a Darwin Award, but he's certainly been nominated for one by many people.
Lincoln Journal Star - Jan 5, 2005
Posted By: Alex - Mon Dec 27, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Cars
The Onstage Death of Leonard Warren
Article source: Wilkes-Barre Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) 05 Mar 1960, Sat Page 2As his Wikipedia page summarizes:
on March 4, during a performance of La forza del destino with Renata Tebaldi as Leonora and Thomas Schippers conducting, Warren suddenly collapsed and died on stage. Eyewitnesses including Rudolf Bing reported that Warren had completed Don Carlo's Act III aria, which begins Morir, tremenda cosa ("to die, a momentous thing"), and was supposed to open a sealed wallet, examine the contents and cry out "È salvo, o gioia" (He is safe, oh joy), before launching into the vigorous cabaletta. While Bing reports that Warren simply went silent and fell face-forward to the floor,[3] others state that he started coughing and gasping, and that he cried out "Help me, help me!" before falling to the floor, remaining motionless. Roald Reitan, singing the Surgeon, was on stage with Warren at the time of his death, and attempted to render aid.[1]
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 05, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Death, Music, Noises and Other Public Disturbances of the Peace, 1960s
Jim Gernhart, the living corpse
In 1951, Jim Gernhart, having recently retired, decided to hold a rehearsal of his own funeral. He kept rehearsing it each subsequent year for 25 years, until finally (still alive) he gave up. Because of this annual ritual he became known as Colorado's "living corpse".He eventually died in 1980 at the age of 103.
Tampa Tribune - Jan 24, 1980
Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 30, 2021 -
Comments (7)
Category: Death, Eccentrics
Miss Spirit World of 1960
In our ongoing exploration of strange beauty titles, this may be the strangest one yet. To be considered for this title, a contestant had to be dead.In 1960, the editors of Psychic Observer magazine asked their readers to send in "pictures of departed beauties taken by spirit photographers." A photo of the contestant while alive was also requested. The readers of the magazine would then vote to determine the winner.
Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to track down any pictures of the Miss Spirit World contestants. Only a few issues of Psychic Observer are archived online. Nor are there back copies in a library near me.
Carlsbad Current-Argus - Feb 9, 1960
Posted By: Alex - Fri Nov 19, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Death, 1960s
Continue Typing, No Matter What!
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 19, 2021 -
Comments (6)
Category: Business, Death, 1930s, Courage, Bravery, Heroism and Valor
C. W. Leadbeater, Theosophist
Anyone with even a passing interest in the weird has heard of that famous eccentric Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society.But less attention is paid to her interesting comrade, C. W. Leadbeater.
Read his pretty short book THE LIFE AFTER DEATH here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 17, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Eccentrics, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Books, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
Death By Cactus
Feb 1982: David Grundman of Phoeniz, Arizona decided to go cactus hunting with a shotgun, but a cactus fought back.David M. Grundman of 3932 W. Kaler Drive reportedly fired at least two rifled slugs from a 16-gauge shotgun at a 26- to 27-foot saguaro and started to shout, "Timber!"
He only had enough time to say "Tim —" before a 23-foot section of the cactus fell and crushed him.
He only had enough time to say "Tim —" before a 23-foot section of the cactus fell and crushed him.
Grundman's death was the inspiration for the song "Saguaro" by the Austin Lounge Lizards.
Arizona Republic - Feb 5, 1982
Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 10, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, 1980s
The Deadly Tombstone of John Rogers Vinton
From his Find-a-Grave site:
After some time spent at Monterey and Saltillo, He was then ordered to join Gen. Scott in the attack on Vera Cruz. In the evening of 22 Mar 1847, he had just returned to his post when a large shell, hit the top of a parapet, glanced and struck his head, fracturing his skull, and killing him instantly. The shell did not burst, and it is supposedly that very cannon ball, that now adorns his grave.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 05, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Death, Regionalism, War, Cemeteries, Graveyards, Crypts, Mortuaries and Other Funereal Pursuits, Nineteenth Century
Unauthorized Dwellings 20
Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 28, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Death, Unauthorized Dwellings, Europe
| Who We Are |
|---|
| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |