Foibe Day, the school in Catania ends up on the "bad" list presented by Brothers of Italy in Parliament.

There is also the Vaccarini Higher Education Institute of Catania on the list of bad schools compiled by two national parliamentarians from Fratelli d'Italia and included in an inquiry addressed to the Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara. The text denounces that in a number of institutions - many of which are in Rome - the Day of Remembrance for the Foibe was not adequately commemorated. It asks the minister whether he intends to take initiatives regarding this.

The case has exploded in the national press and the opposition is on the attack: “We are facing a real work of intimidation and cataloging,” denounces the Pd. For the national association of principals, “the publication of a list of 'bad' schools cannot be shared.”

The deputies who presented the inquiry are the Vice President of the Chamber Fabio Rampelli and Federico Mollicone. The text, recalling the establishment of the Day of Remembrance for the Foibe, emphasizes that on this occasion “initiatives for promoting knowledge of the tragedy of the Foibe and the Giuliano-Dalmatian exodus, especially among young generations, have been strengthened” and that “the ministry invites educational institutions, also considering the importance attributed to the theme of the centrality of the person in the Guidelines for teaching civic education, to promote moments of reflection on the meaning and value of the anniversary.” However - the inquiry continues - “it appears to the inquirer that, in many educational institutions of the national education system, adequate follow-up to the aforementioned initiatives is not being given.” Schools in Latina, Chieti, Bologna, many in Rome, and the Vaccarini in Catania are cited.

Who reported this to Rampelli and Mollicone? “From parents and students,” Rampelli himself responds following the controversies.

At Vaccarini in Catania this year, to reflect on the tragedy of the foibe, Eric Gobetti, a historian and expert on fascism and the history of Yugoslavia, was hosted. He is mainly known for the book "And then the foibe?", which has cost him various forms of intimidation from right-wing circles. The text, published by Laterza, has been defended by the Italian Society for the Study of Contemporary History. The full professor of Contemporary History at the University of Catania, Pinella Di Gregorio, had said about the book: "Beyond the provocative title, it is based on precise historical research and certainly does not have tones that could even remotely support denialist theses. However, the point is not related to the debate on a clearly controversial topic but rather to the defense of research freedom that cannot be intimidated by the virtual square." On the same day, Gobetti also held another meeting in the city, at the Emilio Greco artistic high school.

However, Gobetti's presence at Vaccarini sparked protests from students of the right-wing group Azione studentesca, who accused the historian of "diminishing the tragedy of the foibe." The national page of the student movement published a video, made right in front of the school, in which they describe the historian's presence as "very serious". The uproar, which began in early February, reportedly reached the Ministry of Education, so much so that Gobetti's second conference, this time at the Mario Rapisardi Institute in Paternò, was canceled and some spoke of Roman pressures. "We realized that there was a lack of a counter-argument - explained the principal Maria Grazia D'Amico on that occasion - as required by the ministry's circular, and we decided to postpone the appointment until we have the opportunity to involve a scholar with different interpretations."

At Vaccarini, however, the appointment was confirmed. And today the school finds itself on the list of the bad guys of Fratelli d'Italia. "I am busy at work, I have not yet received anything official. I will report to my superiors", are the only words obtained by phone from principal Salvina Gemmellaro, who does not intend to make any statements.

Meanwhile, the president of the National Association of Principals, Antonello Giannelli, emphasizes that he "does not agree with the publication of a list of 'bad' schools, also because institutions enjoy autonomy that must be respected and understood based on the sensitivities and opportunities offered by each school year, but at the same time all victims must be remembered with equal dignity, regardless of political color: all must be respected in the same way and remembered so that the horrors of regimes do not recur. It is important to remember all the harm that humanity has done to prevent it from happening again in the future".

For Irene Manzi and Cecilia d'Elia, group leaders of PD in the Culture committees of the Chamber and Senate, "the preparation and dissemination of a list of schools, seemingly compiled based on alleged testimonies, constitutes a disturbing fact. We are facing a true act of intimidation and cataloging, which risks becoming an unjustified and unwarranted political pressure tool on institutions that must be able to work serenely, respecting their autonomy and freedom". 

Rampelli dismisses the controversies by speaking of the "usual justice extremists who, as soon as one is allowed to report anomalies and omissions, cry out against the plague. Asking the competent ministry - he continues - whether it is true that some Italian schools, reported by parents and students for not having adhered to the guidelines of the law that established the Day of Remembrance, means making lists of proscription? Then I inform you that 80% of parliamentary questions have the same characteristics. The issue is simple: is there or is there not a law of the State? Must it or must it not be respected by everyone, starting with public institutions? And what does school autonomy have to do with it, which according to such fantasists would give a license to ignore current regulations?".