Teachers, students and janitors: these are the real ‘heroes’ | First page

The sound of the bell announced the start of the great operation. The army has moved. But it was not crowded. Someone out of fear and others aware of being in trouble for lack of the necessary support, deserted waiting for better times. What our soldiers sent to the Russian campaign could not do with rubber boots on their feet and green canvas raincoats. So, of the nine and a half million students (photo Ansa) that this morning only a little more than half would have had to report to class have joined the first day of classes. And certainly not out of indifference or indiscipline.

Schools were closed in March. Six and a half months during which those responsible for the nerve center of our company should have exercised the sacrosanct duty of thinking and acting from the first moment so that the resumption of educational and training activities occurred as a sign of authentic normality and serenity. Two hundred wasted days and only in view of the fateful moment a frenzied agitation to try to somehow remedy the “not done.” Government, left and right, including the President of the Republic and therefore all those who on waking days their mouths have been filled with rhetorical speeches about defending our young people and their right to education should feel responsible of this half debacle.

It is true that at the moment, with the pandemic spreading around the world and that fortunately does not seem to want to get too excited about Italy, the problems are different and some are fundamental. This, however, it does not in the least justify the superficiality and carelessness with which the subject of the reopening of schools was approached. In fact, politics has proven to be much more focused on the issue of elections, the referendum, and the gang war than at the crucial moment for our children. Masks yes masks no. Thermometers at home or at school. Inadequate transportation. Single-seater benches with or without wheels, which never came. Insufficient number of teachers. Face-to-face or distance classes. An indescribable chaos in which each has their opinion without ever agreeing with the other.

In this landscape of guilty ineffectiveness, the only ones who have shown great common sense and excellent will have been those who are supposed to be the users of the school service. Directors, teachers, janitors and students who, in the first person and sometimes even paying out of their own pocket, have also been activated by working as porters to make classes at least acceptable and in accordance with health safety regulations. What the institutions should have done they did, and yet in a traditional way. This is what they are the real “heroes” in this strange country of ours, baffled by talk and by false horsemen without blemish and fear.