Europe’s classrooms belong to all children

Why is this important?

My son just started the 3rd grade here in Bologna. He has sixteen classmates. Leila* is his best friend. 

They’re regular kids. They struggle with the multiplication tables, love to play tag, and even try to sneak the odd candy into class. 

All of them were born in Italy. Among them are nine nationalities, and just as many second languages. But now Meloni has plans to separate “foreign” children. Putting a 30% limit on non-Italian citizens in each class. Where a class goes over, some children could be sent to another school. [1]

They say it’s to improve Italian-language learning. But we know better. If this law was in place, at least three of my son’s Italian-born classmates may not be allowed in this class. 

This is how exclusion starts. And silence is how it spreads. 

Thankfully, this community is not known for its silence.  [2] And nothing is final yet: Italy's Parliament has less than two months to vote on the law. But the real decisions are being made right now, as politicians draft changes behind closed doors.

While this may be an Italian problem for now,  it’s so much bigger than that. Today it’s Italy, tomorrow it’s your hometown. So let’s make sure the children growing up in Europe hear something different from us:

You belong here. And our schools belong to all of us.

*Leila is not her real name - changed to protect her privacy

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