Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/189657
Dave McCament specializes in teaching restorative arts. He teaches students to make death masks out of plaster, as a means for teaching facial reconstruction if there has been disfigurement. alive," comments Dave McCament, teacher and mortician. "They may be the unclaimed dead, but at one time they led very real lives and had a family." McCament specializes in teaching restorative arts, which he believes help families accept the "reality of death" and be assured their loved one is finally at peace. He teaches students to make death masks out of plaster, as a means for teaching facial reconstruction if there has been disfigurement. The masks are beautiful and pale as they lie drying in the art room. McCament entered the business for three reasons. The first was to make a lot of money. But he found morticians earn low salaries, starting at about $35,000 a year. The second was to impress people. People were impressed, but not in the way he imagined. The third was to help people. That has turned out to be true. "People don't always understand the greater good that you "The profession is intrinsically rewarding," says Jolena Grande as she helps Amber Carvaly. do until they have a loss in their family. Then, they get it. It's an emotional job. For me, it's important to recognize what families are going through — but not become so involved that you enter into grief with them. There's a difference between empathy and sympathy. This is what I teach my students." Jolena Grande, who teaches the business classes and works in a mortuary, says the profession is intrinsically rewarding. "You can help others in their worst time of need. But it's stressful. You may be dealing with families that are fractured, and death only exacerbates fractures in a family; members who haven't communicated in years are now required to talk to each other. As a result, we do a tremendous amount of counseling. The altruism and commitment that every single one of our students and faculty has for serving others is something I am proud of." OCTOBER 201 3 Educator 10 Oct 2013 v2.1 int.indd 31 www.cta.org 31 10/7/13 9:39 PM