“The serious episodes of physical aggression against two teachers, in Milazzo (in a technical-economic institute) and in Palermo (in a scientific high school) are only the latest in a long list of equally deplorable events that occurred in Sicily and in the rest of ‘Italy. The problem is therefore widespread”: Pierro, director of the Sicilian Regional School Office, writes this in a note.
“So much so that in the first months of this year the intervention of the Minister of Education Valditara was called for, who highlighted the importance of considering the school institution as an injured party in similar cases, underlining the damage to its image suffered. The data speak of 36 cases in our country in the last school year and from September to today no less than thirty. Numbers that deserve attention from society as a whole. There is no doubt that we are witnessing a deterioration in the relationship between school and family. This is demonstrated by the increase in attacks by parents against teachers. The latest case in Sicily, in chronological order, occurred in Milazzo a few days ago. I have already expressed my closeness and solidarity with the two teachers attacked by one of their students“, states the director who continues: “The Regional School Office for Sicily is reporting all cases to the Ministry of Education so that those attacked can be guaranteed the support they deserve as provided for by the recently adopted rules. I have also decided to urgently and extraordinarily convene a meeting with the representatives of Forags, the regional forum of school parents’ associations in Sicily, and the representatives of the regional guarantee body established at the USR. It is the first step of a deeper path of reflection and awareness on the school-family co-responsibility pact which cannot be ignored if we want to prevent harmful conflicts”.
