Parents write to the prefect: "The opening of the Games is a celebration, don't close our schools."

The position comes in response to the decision to close schools within the 90/91 ring road on February 6th.

We believe that closing schools represents a problematic choice considering the educational, social, and community role they play daily in neighborhoods. This is what we read in the letter addressed to the prefect and signed by Rete Scuole Aperte, which brings together over 25 associations of parents, teachers, and citizens in the Milan area. The position comes in response to the decision to close schools located within the 90/91 ring road on February 6th, the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

"On occasions like these, it is always taken for granted that schools must close," explains the association's spokesperson Stefania Leone, underlining how "parents feel that the needs of young people always end up on the back burner." The discontent stems from students' exclusion from "all those sporting values that young people should be the primary beneficiaries of," observes Carlo de Vecchis, a member of the Fabbri school's parent committee. "An event of this magnitude could have represented an important educational and civic opportunity, keeping schools open and actively involving them," the letter continues. "Even just walking the children to see the torch relay would have been appreciated," comments Anna Guarneri, president of the Stoppani school's parents' association, where a permanent museum dedicated to the Games has been created, thanks in part to student contributions. "The children worked actively and are being penalized in this way: it's humiliating," she adds.

Concerns also concern logistical and organizational aspects, especially for the most vulnerable families with young children and without the option of working from home. "I wonder if the restrictions can be adjusted," says Lia Quartapelle, a Democratic Party member of parliament, who also sent a personal letter to the prefect. "I think it's important to reopen the discussion, trying at least to keep local schools open, which wouldn't increase traffic." In this context, concerns arise that "Milan will remain merely a backdrop" for an international event, continues Quartapelle, and "the message conveyed is one of priority given to commercial aspects," adds de Vecchis. Legambiente also sent a letter to the prefect asking that the closure "be reconsidered in light of the content and values of the event that this choice should facilitate."

Link to the site: https://milano.repubblica.it/c...