Summer, time for changes in schools. At the Zucchi classical high school there are 7 illustrious retirements among the school’s historic and best-known teachers. Francesco Iliano (Motor education), at Zucchi since 2006, Mara Gualdoni (art), Franco Bulega (Italian), Anna Magni also assistant to the director (mathematics), Adriano Gardella, physical education teacher since 2002, Annalisa Amodeo (Greek and Latin ) at Zucchi since 1987 and Claudio Frigerio, at the musical high school since 2012, and then the historic school collaborator, Mrs. Angela.
For all of them and for those who have recently retired (about a hundred in recent years) the school organized a party on the last day of school, as well as many surprise initiatives organized spontaneously by students in different classes. Teachers have seen the school change and transform, with an acceleration especially after Covid. “The kids – observes Professor Francesco Iliano – have more need to talk, even in physical education a psychological approach is needed. They are more fragile. There are many cases of crisis for grades: they are unable to manage and tolerate defeats. First five during a test, delirium breaks out, perhaps also due to a pressing approach on the part of the families. Often the parents are called to discuss the problems with them and if they accept the invitation everything is resolved brilliantly”. Professor Iliano toured various schools in Brianza: from Hensemberger, to Ipsia, to Vanoni, to Einstein of Vimercate.
Professor Franco Bulega has seen the history of almost the last 40 years of Zucchi high school, but not only that. Born in Milan, he began his experience in the professorship of the professional Kandinsky of Milan and the chemical technician Molinari. “Zucchi high school was my home from 1987 to 2024 – he fondly remembers – a castle of crossed destinies, like that of Italo Calvino, whose colleague and friend Maurizio Allegri, who passed away in 2022, I want to remember in particular”. Over time the school has become more open, as the teacher recalls. Once upon a time, if you belonged to the wealthy families of Monza, you couldn’t help but go to Zucchi. Today it has become more usable; furthermore, the advent of the musical high school has increased diversity among students. The school has become more inclusive, with the integration of fragilities with personalized teaching plans for students with learning disabilities and special needs and a lot of attention to listening. Students at school are often bored and distracted. “The kids ask you not to be banal – reiterates Professor Bulega – to tell them something beautiful, urgent and precious. This is why the lesson cannot be solved by saying: “let’s read on page 45“. It doesn’t work. The school is effective if he passes tools to judge, criticize and get angry at the world”.
The reclamation of alias careers? “It’s a positive déjà vu that recalls the demands of the 70s – explains the professor – the kids thus show attention to the social dynamics of their time. I graduated in the year in which the Red Brigades kidnapped Aldo Moro We took to the streets, they claimed gender fluidity, because I appreciated it. Angela Cirillo, the historic school collaborator, will also retire.
