A-Infos (en) Italy, FAI, Umanita Nova #18-26 - Teaching Solidarity. Marostica: Teachers Reprimanded (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

A couple of weeks ago, the unflappable province of Vicenza was rocked by 
a furious political controversy that spilled over the Veneto region and 
even reached parliament. ---- The uproar was sparked by an educational 
activity organized by some teachers at a primary school in Marostica. As 
part of a civic education project, the teachers involved two fifth-grade 
classes in studying and understanding migration. To raise awareness 
among the students, the teachers contacted the "Linea d'Ombra" 
association in Trieste-which has been involved for years in assisting 
migrants on the Balkan route-and organized a trip to the Julian capital 
with the aim of teaching the children the harsh reality of immigration. 
The young students thus had the opportunity to help volunteers 
distribute hot meals and basic necessities to immigrants lingering in 
Piazza Libertà, now known as "Piazza del Mondo."

Hell, if only they hadn't done it! Some politicians immediately 
unleashed a violent media frenzy, taking advantage of the formidable 
sounding board offered by social media. In particular, MEP Elena 
Donazzan of the Brothers of Italy party, along with MP Silvio Giovine 
and Northern League members Andrea Barabotti and Anna Maria Cisint, 
slammed the teachers' initiative, openly accusing them of trying to 
"brainwash" their students.

Posing as infallible pedagogical experts, these enlightened politicians 
also challenged the other educational activity proposed to the children: 
walking barefoot and blindfolded for a few meters to help them 
understand the difficulties migrants face when forced to navigate 
unfamiliar and dangerous paths in the dark. For Donazzan, all of this is 
intolerable because schools "must teach respect for rules, institutions, 
and legality, not legitimize victim narratives."

Along with the media pillorying, the reactionary group unleashed the 
predictable intimidation by directly addressing Minister Valditara, who 
certainly didn't need to be asked twice, promising "appropriate 
investigations into the matter, to ascertain the teaching methods of the 
activities ordered and how they were carried out."

Meanwhile, the Marostica teachers have received support from a 
significant portion of the population, and a petition promoted by a 
network of local associations has attracted nearly four hundred 
signatures, as well as the unconditional support of the local church, 
Caritas, the Scouts, the National Association of Italian Partisans 
(ANPI), the Peace Table, and other associations in the Bassano area.

Finally, the school principal's defense was unwavering. He clarified 
that the field trip was conducted "in full compliance with the 
administrative procedures required by current legislation," essentially 
debunking the allegations of fascists and Northern League supporters. He 
acknowledged, instead, that "the active and informed participation of 
the students, the support of their parents, and the constructive 
collaboration with local associations gave the project a high 
educational value, achieving the school's primary objective: 
strengthening a sense of belonging to the civil community and ethical 
responsibility toward others, as required by the guidelines for teaching 
civic education. It was, quite simply, an act of humanity and respect 
for others, an action completely independent of any political stance."

In a normal country, the Marostica teachers' educational project should 
have received nothing but praise. And yet, once again, we find ourselves 
confronting the squadrism and provocations of political careerists who 
continue to knowingly invest in hatred, discrimination, and racism. The 
teachers of Marostica were crucified for doing their job as teachers, 
helping young people develop principles of humanity and civil 
coexistence that the Northern League and fascists are unable to 
understand or appreciate.

These are the same political forces that, for example, spun a false and 
tendentious narrative in the aftermath of the dramatic events in Modena 
with the sole purpose of fomenting racist anger among the population. 
These are the same political forces that, to give yet another example, 
didn't say a word after the brutal murder of Bakari Sako, killed in 
Taranto by a gang of young Italians fueled only by the hatred so beloved 
by advocates of "remigration."

These champions of culture-so good at prattling on about what should and 
shouldn't be done in school, what should and shouldn't be studied-are 
always quick to accuse teachers who disagree with them of wanting to 
"convey ideological messages." Ideology suddenly becomes acceptable, 
however, if soldiers or police officers show up in class to explain how 
wonderful the army is and how important repression is, or if public 
schools are becoming a laboratory of the most vulgar corporate culture, 
where each student is considered solely based on the productive role 
they will play upon graduation.

The truth is that the initiative of the courageous and far-sighted 
teachers of Marostica has struck a nerve with those who would like a 
school and a society regimented by fear and systemic violence.

It's understandable that the principal, in defending the teachers and 
with the clear intent of deescalating the controversy, emphasized that 
respect for others transcends any political stance.

However, I beg to differ in the most respectful way.

In these times, with this vulgar ruling class polluting public debate, 
conveying to young people the importance of empathy and human solidarity 
towards others is a profoundly political act, in the highest sense of 
the word.

Looking into someone's eyes, listening to their story, observing their 
wounds-physical and moral-inflicted by an existential condition stemming 
from a profoundly unjust and selfish society, are life lessons that 
cannot truly be learned from a book alone.

In this sense, an education offered attentively and consciously, to 
shape free and supportive individuals, is one of the last bastions left 
to face the advancing brown tide.

Alberto La Via

https://umanitanova.org/educare-alla-solidarieta-marostica-le-maestre-bacchettate/
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