Summer Holidays Begin for Italian Students
As the school year reaches its end, students across Italy prepare for the much-anticipated summer holidays. The first to enjoy their break are students from Emilia Romagna, Marche, and Valle d'Aosta, starting on June 6. Following closely, students from Puglia and Sardinia will begin their holidays on June 7. Most other regions, including Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lazio, Lombardy, Molise, Piedmont, Sicily, Umbria, and Veneto, will conclude the school year by June 8. Tuscany students will finish on June 10, while those from the province of Trento and Bolzano will have to wait until June 11 and June 14, respectively. The final exams are set to commence on June 19 at 8:30 am. Individual schools will establish the calendar for eighth-grade exams.
Distance Learning for Maurice-Rondeau High School Students
In a surprising move, the principal of Maurice-Rondeau private high school in Bussy-Saint-Georges, Christian-Jacques Lawson, has decided to transition all general and technological final-year students to distance learning until the end of the school year. This decision, announced last Thursday, aims to prevent any excess linked to end-of-year celebrations. The principal's message indicated that teaching would continue remotely via Teams, following the usual timetable with obligatory attendance. Some teachers were reportedly unaware of the decision, leading to frustration among parents and students.
Reaction to Distance Learning Decision
Parents and students expressed their disappointment and frustration over the sudden shift to online classes. One parent criticized the decision as unilateral and unjustified, arguing it robbed students of their final moments in high school to say goodbye. The principal justified his decision citing last year's major clashes that endangered students and staff. An exceptional meeting was called on June 3 to discuss potential solutions, including the possibility of resuming face-to-face classes while adhering to school regulations.
- Maurice-Rondeau high school has a broad educational offering, including general, professional, and technological training with a dedicated sector for electrical engineering and maintenance professions. The decision to move to distance learning comes from a need to ensure the safety of students and staff, particularly in the wake of last year's incidents involving physical altercations among students, which resulted in minor injuries to a teacher and the violent pushing of an adult with a disability.
- The principal's decision reflects a growing trend among educational institutions to prioritize safety and well-being, even at the cost of traditional end-of-year celebrations. However, this has also sparked discussions on finding a balance between maintaining a secure environment and preserving the emotional and social aspects of student life.
