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Calamandrei's speech on public school. (1950)

"Let's say, so theoretically, there is a ruling party, a ruling party, which, however, formally wants to respect the constitution, not want to violate the substance. Do not want to march on Rome and transform the classroom space for the paddles, but wants to establish, without opinion, a disguised dictatorship.

So, what to do to gain control of schools and to transform the State schools the

n Party schools? He realizes that the State schools are failing to be impartial. There is a certain resistance, in those schools is always there, even under fascism has been there. Then the dominant party follows another path (it's all a theoretical hypothesis, mind you). He begins to neglect the public schools, to discredit, to impoverish. Let it anemizzino and begins to favor private schools. Not all private schools. The schools of his party, that party. And then all these treatments are beginning to go to private schools. Cure of money and privilege. He even begins to advise the boys to go to these schools, because basically it says are better than those of the state. And maybe give themselves awards, as now I will tell you, or proposes to give awards to citizens who are willing to send their children to public schools rather than private schools. A "those" private schools. The exams are easier, unless you study and you do best. So the private school becomes a privileged school.

The ruling party, could not transform the State schools openly in schools of the party, sent to hell for the State schools give preference to private schools. Beware, my friends, this conference this is the point that we must discuss. Warning, this is the recipe. We must keep an eye on the cooks of this low kitchen. The operation is done in three ways: I have already said, ruin the State schools. Let go to hell. Impoverish their budgets. Ignore their needs. Mitigate the supervision and control over private schools. Do not check its reliability. Let the teachers teach you that do not have the minimum qualifications to teach. Let the examinations are jokes. Giving public money to private schools. This is the point. Giving public money to private schools. "

Piero Calamandrei



(Speech delivered by Piero Calamandrei the third congress of the Association in Defence of the National School at Rome 's February 11, 1950)