22nd-23rd-24th-25th February 2011, Emilia-Romagna
Between 22nd and 25th February, in our region the 5th round of the Project Yes was held, that centred on the theme of "Intercultural education".
The delegates of the Consortium of Iasi - that is Professors Lidia Andronache, Anca Dimitriu, Ileana Savinescu of the Teacher Training Centre of Iasi and Professors Florin Iancu (Geography teacher), Cezar Zaharia (Romanian teacher) of the College "Costache Negruzzi" - were involved in workshops and exchange activities in our region, from Sassuolo, to Parma, Bologna and Ravenna, in coordination with the External and International Relations Department of the Legislative Assembly.
The first stage at the IPSSCT "Elsa Morante" Sassuolo (MO) on February 22nd, offered an extensive programme in which the interculture was told and discussed in the daily practice of the Institute.
The day has offered several occasions to commemorate the recently deceased Prof. Stefano Todesco, who has given so much to YES in terms of commitment and passion, as this memory remains vivid in the memory of the school staff and students met, as well as in the memory of those encountered working together in this European project.
The Headmistress Rosanna Rossi and Prof. Paola Pagliara amply illustrated the Institute projects that aim to promote the integration not only of foreign students, but also of other children at risk of marginalization, such as the disabled. In the discussion with Romanian colleagues, the richness of a system that includes, besides the figure of the school psychologist, additional support tools, appeared outstanding. Such tools are the "Project against early school leaving," the draft guidelines (played both in the choices for the three years of specialization for the university), the theatre workshops, the project “Lo sport è di tutti” also addressed to disabled children, and finally the project "Tutor" in which the 'Elsa Morante "involves motivated former alumni to assist the disabled and to promote their integration in school. The inclusion of the disabled in Italian schools stands as a strong point of a system that has developed specific methods targeting the integration of different pupils, and that has strengthened with the arrival of many foreign students, that at the "E. Morante" touch 25% of the total.
The afternoon permitted the Iasi delegation a close examination of the courses of Italian for foreign students and the methods used by Professor Corina Serdean (play as a learning tool) and laboratory activities, aimed at integration through socialization and enhancement of students' skills-, including the pottery and the music and dance workshops.
The day has offered several occasions to commemorate the recently deceased Prof. Stefano Todesco, who has given so much to YES in terms of commitment and passion, as this memory remains vivid in the memory of the school staff and students met, as well as in the memory of those encountered working together in this European project.
The Headmistress Rosanna Rossi and Prof. Paola Pagliara amply illustrated the Institute projects that aim to promote the integration not only of foreign students, but also of other children at risk of marginalization, such as the disabled. In the discussion with Romanian colleagues, the richness of a system that includes, besides the figure of the school psychologist, additional support tools, appeared outstanding. Such tools are the "Project against early school leaving," the draft guidelines (played both in the choices for the three years of specialization for the university), the theatre workshops, the project “Lo sport è di tutti” also addressed to disabled children, and finally the project "Tutor" in which the 'Elsa Morante "involves motivated former alumni to assist the disabled and to promote their integration in school. The inclusion of the disabled in Italian schools stands as a strong point of a system that has developed specific methods targeting the integration of different pupils, and that has strengthened with the arrival of many foreign students, that at the "E. Morante" touch 25% of the total.
The afternoon permitted the Iasi delegation a close examination of the courses of Italian for foreign students and the methods used by Professor Corina Serdean (play as a learning tool) and laboratory activities, aimed at integration through socialization and enhancement of students' skills-, including the pottery and the music and dance workshops.
Wednesday 23 was the day of ITC "GBBodoni" in Parma, where delegates of the Consortium of Iasi and the coordinators of the External Relations and international Department were welcomed by the Headmistress Luciana Donelli and Professor Annalisa Martini, and got to know some aspects of the School Programme associated with intercultural issues, reviewing specific activities conducted in class. In particular, Professor Alice Bellodi illustrated the intercultural activities based on art and music workshops (singing, dancing and guitar), and the Institute's customized study programmes for pupils with special needs, and for all foreign students. Professor Giuseppina D'Amico went on to explain to partners the figure of the "support teacher" , unique in Europe, and the full availability of services to disabled people, whose integration is part of the mission of every public school in Italy.
The Romanian delegation, with the assistance of Romanian pupils as interpreters, attended computer labs (development and maintenance of Web sites) and business management, English and Italian lessons, in which the method of work focuses on peer education, and is therefore particularly eligible to integrate newcomers. In the afternoon the delegation visited the“Laboratorio Famiglia Oltretorrente”, a reality that seeks to promote communal relations, integration paths, mutual aid among people, Italian and foreign families alike, among the different generations, promoting visibility of all, exchange of knowledge and skills, sharing of needs and efforts, resources and energy. The family, as explained by the contact person, Ms. Cecilia Greci, is seen as a resource for integration: each one is not integrated as an individual, but as part of a community.
On 24th February workshops were held at the ITC "Rosa Luxemburg" in Bologna, where the A.I.P.I Association explained the nature and practice of intercultural workshops organized also in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg high school.
Ms. Gabriella Angiolini examined the methodological issue and showed how group work involving foreign students in activities such as the simplification of the history textbook, could help in dealing with students' curriculum in an inclusive manner.
Professor Savinescu has presented the optional course in "Intercultural education" present in the educational offer of the Romania sistem which has amongst its goals to increase pupils' motivation through games, brainstorming, role games, mostly targeting the involvement of minorities.
Susanna Delendez and Roberto Pasquali of A.I.P.I. illustrated the workshops conducted in collaboration with teachers of the Institute during school hours, that integrate curricular learning activities with in-depth creative workshops involving the entire class group overcoming language barriers. Outside school hours, other creative workshops in art, music, dance, offer more opportunities for all students to carry out vocational study and socialize, as well as to address sensitive issues (health, contraception, etc.).Ms. Gabriella Angiolini examined the methodological issue and showed how group work involving foreign students in activities such as the simplification of the history textbook, could help in dealing with students' curriculum in an inclusive manner.
Professor Savinescu has presented the optional course in "Intercultural education" present in the educational offer of the Romania sistem which has amongst its goals to increase pupils' motivation through games, brainstorming, role games, mostly targeting the involvement of minorities.
The exchange of good practices on the theme of "Intercultural Education" was completed on 25th February at the headquarters of the Legislative Assembly in Bologna, and included the presentation by the teachers of Negruzzi College of the Project "Diversity: the art of free thinking together" that involved the creation of a website by the students of the college and that focuses on interculture. Discussion followed. In addition, the following appointments of the YES project were set. The next step, in Iasi between 13th and 15th April, will be dedicated to deepening and the exchange of methodologies and for "Conflict management in groups of pupils."
22 February 2011 - IPSCT Elsa Morante, Modena
23 February 2011 - ITC Bodoni, Parma
24 February 2010 - ITC Rosa Luxemburg, Bologna
25 February 2011 - Assemblea legislativa
