Like summertime provokes controversy over clandestine landings, Christmastime offers a good opportunity to raise racist arguments about immigration.
As usual, who wants to influence the public opinion with the fear of the other is the only political party condemned by a court for racism: the Lega.
On local and national newspaper the argument on ‘missing’ cribs in the schools has been stirred up in conjunction with the wide-spread uncertainty following the absurd war in Iraq, reflected by the fight against an internal enemy, more and more identified with the ‘Muslim immigrant’
This fight fails to face the real issues affecting school, multicultural approach and religious diversity. The teachers’ position in the cases of Treviso and Como showed that their aim was not exclusion, but welcoming of diversity regarded as an enriching value.
On one side the number of foreign children in the school is increasing, on the other side teachers often are lacking adequate means and structures. Whether the classroom becomes a place of understanding and exchange depends only on the teacher’s goodwill and efforts.
Unfortunately there is no sign that foreign pupils will receive the attention they deserve as a vital demographic resource and as crucial elements of a dynamic school system; they became even more ‘invisible’ after not being considered by the new set of rules.
Once more, the recent controversy shows us that new policies and strategies are strongly needed when facing important changes in demography and the whole society. These transformations are urging every subject involved to elaborate a new educational approach, accepting the challenges of multiculturalism and secularism.