«It is right to explain to children of every ethnicity or religion how wonderful it is to know us, but we are in Italy – Salvini said -. Reciprocity is needed, I don’t think that in any Islamic country they close for Easter or Christmas. Until Islam gives itself a structure and recognizes equality between men and women, closing schools seems to me to be a bad sign. It is a sign of giving in and retreating to close for Ramadan.” Salvini then proposed «a cap on the number of foreign students in each class, for their protection and for the protection of all children. If you have many children who speak different languages and don’t speak Italian, it’s chaos for everyone. A 20 percent of foreign children in a class is also stimulating because you learn about languages, cultures and music. But when Italians make up 20 percent of the children in the classroom, how can a teacher explain?”.
Tajani: closing schools does not help integration
The deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, is of the same opinion: «We cannot close schools for the holidays of all religions: asking for schools is not a good message for integration» says the secretary of Forza Italia.
The criticisms of the Democratic Party
Strong criticism comes from the Democratic Party. «Those of Valditara – says the democratic group leader in the Culture commission of the Chamber and head of schools of the Democratic Party, Irene Manzi – are ramblings. The education minister is now acting as Salvini’s megaphone. This crusade against kids with migrant backgrounds is truly sickening. Instead of making propaganda, the government should indicate what the proposals are for school inclusiveness”.
Mattarella and the praise to the teachers of Pioltello: «I appreciate your work»
On Tuesday the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella responded to the letter from the vice-principal of the Pioltello institute Maria Rendani who had addressed him inviting him to visit the school: «I received and read your letter carefully and, in thanking you», underlined the head of State, «I would like to tell you that I greatly appreciated you, just as – beyond the single episode, which in reality is of modest importance – I appreciate the work that the teaching staff and the institute bodies carry out in fulfilling a precious task and particularly challenging.”
