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News server Romea.cz. Everything about Roma in one place

Czech Republic: Parents protest closure of integrated school in Prague

29 November 2012
4 minute read

The parents of pupils attending the Grafická Primary School are protesting the plan of the Prague 5 municipal government to close it. In an open letter, the parents write that they greatly value that the school’s environment produces "trouble-free collaboration between majority-population pupils and Romani pupils there. Our children get along nicely together, which is not at all usual in today’s society… In recent years, pupils who were inappropriately enrolled into ‘practical primary schools’, even though their intellect did not require such enrollment, have managed to relocate here. These pupils, with the kind and meticulous support of their educators, have successfully handled the difficult transition back to the curriculum of a regular primary school." The parents are demanding that Prague 5 review its decision to close the school.

The Grafická Primary School was awarded the "Ethnic Friendly" brand this year. This prize, given by the IQ Roma servis and ROMEA associations, is given every year to employers espousing the principle of equal treatment for ethnically different members of the population. The Grafická Primary School is not only attended by Romani pupils, but employs Romani assistants and cooks.

News server Romea.cz presents the parents’ open letter below in full translation:

Esteemed Council Members,

We are writing in order to ask that you resolve the situation around the plan to close the Grafická Primary School. We, the undersigned friends and parents of the school, fundamentally disagree with the plan to close the school, which is currently managed by the Prague 5 Municipal Department.

We are completely satisfied with the way our children are taught at the school, primarily with its brilliant educators and their personal approach. We greatly appreciate the trouble-free collaboration between majority-population pupils and Romani pupils there. Our children get along nicely together, which is not at all usual in today’s society. Moreover, the Grafická Primary School, thanks to its balanced numbers of children in each class, makes it possible for teachers to take an individual approach when instructing children with learning disabilities, sociocultural handicaps, etc.

The quality of this school is also proven by the fact that it is attended not just by children who live in Prague 5, but also by children who live in more distant locales.

In recent years we have noticed a rising number of children who are enrolling in the school after attending its affiliated nursery school. This trend is leading to a balanced number of majority-society and minority pupils inside each classroom.

The school offers a program of aesthetic education for gifted children, where pupils work with qualified professionals. This instruction develops the creative potential of our children in the areas of drama, fine arts, movement and musical expression. The children can take advantage of the results they achieve there as part of many cultural events initiated and organized by our school in which schools from all over the Czech Republic also participate.

In recent years, pupils who were inappropriately enrolled into "practical primary schools", even though their intellect did not require such enrollment, have managed to relocate here. These pupils, with the kind and meticulous support of their educators, have successfully handled the difficult transition back to the curriculum of a regular primary school. It is not possible for large-capacity schools to work with such children adequately. The unjustified placement of children into the "practical schools" was also rejected by the European Court of Human Rights judgment of 13 November 2007.

We are particularly appreciative of the family atmosphere that predominates in the school. This atmosphere makes it possible for the children to work on their own development in peace and safety.

We are fed up with the malicious gossip that is circulating about our school. We call on everyone to pay us a visit in person in order to form their own opinion of us on the basis of facts.

We are calling for the following:

• A review of the decision to plan the closure of the school.

• A personal visit to the school by representatives of the Prague 5 corporation and Municipal Council in order to familiarize them with the conditions in the school and its method of instruction so they can recognize the rare phenomenon in human society that the Grafická Primary School represents before making a final decision to close the school, a decision which will impact the fates of many people.

• A clear explanation and submission of indisputable reasons for closing the school.

• Establishment of an independent commission comprised of experts from the above-mentioned authorities and civic associations who will recommend to the Prague 5 authorities, after reviewing the available information, whether it is necessary to close the school and what kind of impact the school’s closure would have on the Romani community in Smíchov.

Thank you,

on behalf of the Petition Committee of Friends and Parents of the School:

• Simona Heřtusová, Praha 5

• Anna Sixtová, Praha 5

• Lucie Grant, Praha 5

• Petra Jakoba Chvalinová, Praha 4

This letter was sent to the following officials and institutions:

Members of the Prague 5 Municipal Department Council

Members of the Prague 5 Municipal Department Corporation

Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport

Department of Education, Youth and Sport, Capitol City of Prague

Czech School Inspection Authority

Czech Professional Society for Inclusive Education, o.s. (ČOSIV)

ROMEA civic association

Czech Government Agency for Social Inclusion

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