Assignment 4: Open/ Closed Doors in Terms of Immigrant Education

            Education is vital in order to be successful in any society. When the issues of immigrants and language barriers become introduced, differences in education become apparent. Through looking at the way in which Italy has coped with this great influx of immigrants in their education system, it becomes apparent of the doors that are both left open to help them out in addition to the numerous ways in which their government has made it difficult to integrate into society. Gerlmini’s new 30% rule in addition to the lack of programs in schools to help out immigrants definitely closes doors for immigrants. On the other hand, certain centers and language programs set up throughout the city are designed to help immigrants integrate into society. These open and closed doors as far as education for immigrants in Italy are then compared to those doors in the United States. Such programs such as ESL help out children while other programs are not distributed evenly, therefore closing off many opportunities to succeed for immigrants.

For Italian immigrants, it becomes very difficult to receive an adequate education due to the numerous closed doors immigrants are faced with. One in particular is Gerlmini’s new law that prohibits Italian schools from exceeding having 30% foreign students in a class. This law, as discussed by our guest speakers Fedelicia Bianchi and Anna Onorati, greatly restricts certain immigrant groups from having easy access to education. In areas that are high in immigrants, many are forced to commute longer distances to attend a school with a lower percentage of foreign born students in the classroom. This commute deters these students from having an optimal education and only further restricts immigrants from being able to integrate into the Italian society. This new law makes me question the motives behind the Italian government. If the government is trying to make it more difficult for these immigrants to obtain an education, it seems almost as if Italy is only hurting itself by not educating its’ population.

In addition to this new law, Bianchi and Onorati also discussed the lack of resources offered to immigrant children in schools. They talked about how there are programs set up to help immigrant kids who are having difficulty but how these programs are only offered one day a week for a few hours. In order to be successful in school, programs like these must be offered more often in order to really make a difference in integrating immigrants into to Italian society. After hearing this information, it makes me wonder what must be done in school systems in order to develop programs like these more often?

Another reason that the Italian school system is thought of as closed, deals with a lack of motivation to attend school. According to Renato D’Arca’s “Social, Cultural and Material Conditions of Students from developing countries in Italy,” only 19% stated that they were advised to attend university. In his piece he speaks of student’s loss of interest in becoming integrated in Italian social framework as a major issue at hand. In order for education of these immigrant groups to be moving forward, their must be a will and incentive for students to attend these schools. This statistic makes me wonder why so many students are not being advised to attend university? Is it because education is not as valued in Italy as it is in America? At least in the states, it is almost impossible to be successful without higher education. Why is this not the case in Italy?

 In Italy, education for immigrants can often also be viewed as being open. Throughout the city, there are centers set up to help immigrants adapt to the Italian culture. For example, both the St. Paul Refugee Center as well as the school we visited as a class offers language classes. As a part of my service learning at the St. Paul Refugee Center, I often help teach English, Italian and computer skills to the immigrants that are a part of this center. In addition, the school we visited talked about how they offer classes in a variety of different languages mainly for immigrants. These types of centers help acclimate immigrants to the Italian culture as well as help them find a successful job. It would be greatly beneficial to open more centers such as these to help the increasing amount of immigrants in Italy acclimate into society here.

     In the United States, it almost seems as if the educational system provides more open doors for immigrant students. In addition to there being no 30% rule for the classroom make up, there are also programs to help immigrant students learn the class material at a slower pace. Programs such as ESL (English as a Second Language) help teach kids at their own pace in a separate classroom. At least in my school growing up in California, these programs existed everyday and helped kids in a variety of subjects in order to help these immigrant kids stay on the same track as their American classmates. I wonder if Italy could work with these ESL programs to try and devise a way to integrate similar programs everyday in the Italian school system?

   Although it may seem as if the United State’s educational system is more open compared to Italy, the US’s system can also be viewed as a system designed to close doors for many immigrants. Immigrant students are often only provided with a basic education that only allows them to fulfill the low paying jobs once they finish their schooling. They are not provided with as much flexibility as far as courses and programs to help further their education. For example, the public high school I attended, which was in a predominately white region of California, offered a range of honors, advanced placement as well as internship opportunities to help students be successful later in life. A town not to far from me was filled of predominately immigrants from Mexico and Central America. In this town, the high schools do not offer such programs to help their students get ahead. I have always wondered that if the programs that were offered at my high school were moved to the predominately immigrant high school if these immigrants would have greater opportunities as far as college and high paying jobs?

     Overall, it is interesting to compare how different countries take on the issue of educating immigrants. Through comparing both Italy and the US, it becomes apparent of the vast differences there are to approaching this issue around immigrants. It would be interesting to look at the successful educational programs set up in both countries and examine a way that these can be implemented throughout the world to help immigrants. In the end though, it is good to hear that immigrants, at least in Italy, have a high rate of educational attainment. According to Renato D’Arca, 59% of the immigrant population obtains a high school diploma in Italy. It is important to continue to help these successful educational programs exist in order to make sure that the majority of the population is becoming educated. 

          

Blog 3: Interviews in Piazza Vittorio

           Upon arriving to the market at Esquilino and the Piazza Vittorio, it became evident that we had entered an area culturally and ethnically rich and diverse. Here, it seemed hard to even spot an Italian face or and Italian restaurant in the area. It was in this region that my partner Sha and I were able to conduct casual interviews with the immigrants as well as Italians in the area to learn more about their personal stories and views on the issues surrounding immigration.

           Not wanting to come off as intruding their personal beliefs and stories, we decided to take an approach which made us look as quizzical tourists rather than bothersome American students impeding on their lives. We made sure to keep our notebooks hidden and smiles on our faces. Sha and I started off in the indoor market where we would meander around each of the shops, showing interest in many of the goods waiting for an opportunity to try and connect with the vendors. Within the first few stands people were already making the effort and reaching out to talk with us by asking us where we were from and saying a friendly “hello.” This became the perfect opportunity for us to strike up a conversation about their insight on immigration and their personal stories on this topic.

         

            The first two men we spoke with worked at a meat stand in the market. They had kindly approached us speaking English knowing we were American. We took the opportunity and flashed a smile while displaying interest in their meats. We hoped this would result in them feeling more comfortable and in the end open up more about their stories and experiences with Italian immigration. The man at the front that we spoke with was from Bangladesh and about thirty years old. He moved to Italy three years ago with his family. He moved to Italy because he “likes money” and according to him, Italy is a good place to be successful. When we asked about education of the immigrant youth, he stated that his children do not go to school and slyly changed the subject to talking about our program in Rome. We took this as a hint that we dove into too much personal information. This interview got me thinking if our backgrounds had influenced the responses we received. Since we were American, and highly value education, he might have felt judged and wanted us to change subjects. We said “ciao” and moved on to try and interview others.

            Only a few stands later we come across two men from Bangladesh who welcomed us with smiles and offering us fruit. Again, we casually glanced around at their goods and asked them questions about where they were from and their immigration to Italy. With the little English they could speak and our gestures, we were not able to get too far. The only subject we were able to commonly understand was about Barack Obama. After stating that we liked our president, their response entailed machine guns and laughs along with phrases of their native language, which we did not understand. With such a language barrier, the situation quickly turned awkward and we swiftly moved on. With this group, I began to wonder if we were able to speak the same language, what interesting stories they would have shared with us? They seemed like they had an interesting background and were knowledgeable on a lot of subjects but neither of us had the means to communicate with each other.

            After not having too much success in the fruit and meat market area, we decided to move on into the clothing section of the market. Quickly upon entering this section of the market, we came across a twenty four year old man named Robbie who spoke very good English at a clothing stand. After wondering around a little more we decided to go back to his stand and try to strike up conversation with him since he seemed to be able to carry on a conversation in English very well. We started by looking at an “Italy” sweatshirt he was selling until he approached us asking where we were from. We approached him in a friendly manor and did not bring up the topic of our assignment right away in hopes that he would open up more to us as we became friends. Our conversation ranged from talking about where he lives in Italy to his upbringing. He moved to Italy when he was ten from India and learned his English in the Italian school system. It was obvious that he was of a higher class than many of the other merchants since he owned many of the shops around us and spoke of traveling the world being a pilot. He lives an hour away and commutes to the market everyday. After introducing our subject of immigration and Italian youth identity, our subject then shifted to speaking more about immigration. He spoke of his father who emigrated from Germany to Rome many years ago. I later introduced what we were doing as our final project and my interest in looking specifically at how immigrant’s health is affected by immigrating to Italy and their access to healthcare. After trying to explain about the healthcare system presently in place in Italy, it became obvious of his eagerness to want to help in anyway he could. He later offered his Facebook to contact him with any more questions. Compared to many of the other immigrants we had talked to, Robbie seemed to be adapted well to life here in Italy through speaking many languages and through his success in the market. This success makes me wonder what others can do to follow his success and to intertwine so successfully into the Italian culture while also maintaining his Indian identity? After speaking with Robbie, I began to wonder what his economic and family background was and if this was a determining factor that set him apart from the other immigrants that we spoke with?

            We then decided to look for an Italian to ask about immigration and their views on the subject. After not seeing many Italians in the market area, we decided to wander the surrounding streets in search of approaching an Italian. After a long walk we finally decided to approach a middle-aged man and ask him about his opinions on immigration. He stated how he did not approve of the immigrants residing in Italy. When asked to elaborate on his dislike for the immigrants, he just kept repeating “not good, not good” while shaking his head. This man called this area of Rome “Chinatown” due to the high amounts of immigrants. China, Bangladesh as well as the Arabic countries were among the most prevalent immigrants in his eyes. In the past ten to eleven years, he has witnessed a great increase in the numbers of immigrants in this community in Rome. One interesting comment he proposed about these immigrants was how, in his opinion, the immigrants were receiving money from the mafia to buy apartments and set up shops in the area. I later questioned what brought him to this belief. Although his beliefs on this issue of immigration are strong, he reassured me that many of his friends and family felt similarly. I began to wonder if his thoughts were truly widespread beliefs across Rome or even within this neighborhood? In addition I wonder what led him to share this information with us? Maybe it was because we were not immigrants or maybe it was because it was evident we shared the same economic status. Either way, I found it an interesting comment to share with strangers.

            Many of this man’s beliefs followed closely to those beliefs discussed in Grillo and Pratt’s “The Politics of Recognizing Difference.” This piece discussed how Italians were beginning to deliberate the complications, consequences and implications of their own identity as a result of the rush of immigrants into Italy. The Italian man we interviewed believed that this influx of immigrants would result in only complications for himself and other Italians and therefore should not be welcomed into his neighborhood or country. It is important to look into the social, political and economical structure of immigrants that cause this man as well as other Italians to have these negative thoughts about immigrants.

            It was clear upon arriving in Piazza Vittorio that we had been introduced to an area of Rome rich in ethnic diversity. Through our many interviews, we were able to get a better understanding of immigration within Italy from a variety of viewpoints. Hearing immigrant’s as well as Italian’s perspectives on the issue surrounding identity and immigration allows for a more personable experience with these issues. Although we were not able to get deep insight on issues of immigration due to language barriers in addition to us being American, we were still able to take a lot from the experience. I am sure that if we were both fluent in Italian as well as coming from a different background, we would have been able to gain more from our trip. Upon leaving Piazza Vittorio, I was confronted with many questions. What brings so many immigrants to this particular area? Has this area always been full of immigrants or is this a recent phenomenon? These questions will only be answered through conducting more research as well as returning to Piazza Vittorio and asking questions. 

         

Blog 2: Roman and Italian Identity

          When I think about what makes a person Roman or Italian, the image of a large boisterous dinner table filled with smiling and joyous family and friends circled around mounds of pasta and endless wine bottles comes into my mind. A sense of warmth and friendliness envelops my thoughts of these types of people. In addition, in my mind, Rome’s rich history and magnificent ancient ruins scattered throughout the city play a role when trying to pin point Roman and Italian identity. Unfortunately, after arriving in Rome and learning more about the Italian identity, it becomes clear that defining what makes up an Italian is neither as glamorous nor simple as I had imagined. There are social, cultural and physical boundaries that limit who can be considered an Italian. These include the social aspect of language, the cultural presence of the church and Roman history as well as the physical boundaries of borders and regions.

            The social aspect of language and how one communicates with one another is a very prominent determinant of what allows someone to be classified as an Italian or Roman. Through speaking with Brittnay’s cousin Guido this weekend in Siena, he informed me about the importance of language in one’s identity. Guido is from Calabria, a region in the South, and studying in Siena of the north. He informed me of the importance of accents when trying to distinguish where someone is from. One’s region, whether it be northern or southern Italy, is a major determinant when looking at the one’s identity in Italy. Through these accents in the Italian language, one’s regional identity becomes evident.

In addition to looking at the differences in identity within the Italian language, it is also important to look within other cultures and languages. In particular, the Roma were examined. According to Isabella Clough Marinaro, there were Italian laws specifically set up to distinguish who could be considered Italian and who could not. This was defined in the 1999 linguistic minorities law that excluded Roma from being incorporated in the Italian identity. Even though the Roma were a part of the Italian history for hundreds of years, this law prohibited them from being incorporated as a definition of being Italian. In the Italian culture, it is the social aspect of language that defines one’s identity.

            When looking at what makes up Roman as well as Italian identity culturally, the influence of the Vatican in addition to the Roman history plays a role. Everywhere you travel in Italy the presence of the Catholic Church can be seen. From the towering churches throughout Italy to the prominent location of the Vatican in Rome, the catholic religion is a defining factor in what makes up an Italian.

In addition, the prominent Roman ruins and history found throughout Rome as well as the rest of Italy help outline the Italian and Roman identity. Throughout our excursion with Margaret Brucia in the Roman forum, it became obvious of the Roman’s pride through the large amounts of victory arches. Also, this pride is visible through their preservation efforts of the ruins over the years. It is this cultural pride in the Roman ruins that distinguishes who is an Italian.

The physical boundary of borders is a major factor in determining the identity of an Italian. Overall, the Italian government makes it very difficult for immigrants or non-Italians to become citizens. The make-up of this government makes it almost impossible for change to occur. If you are born outside the Italian border, even if you spend the majority of your life in Italy, the government makes it extremely difficult to become a citizen. Through this strife for outsiders, it becomes apparent that being born in Italy or having Italian blood is extremely important when looking at defining the Italian identity.

            Overall, it becomes evident that there are certain social, cultural as well as political boundaries that make it difficult when defining an Italian. These include the social boundaries of language, the cultural aspect of the Catholic Church and Roman history as well as the physical boundaries of borders and regions. Although through looking at these boundaries, it becomes easier to understand the Italian culture and what makes up an Italian, these are not concrete definitions. Depending on whom you talk to or where you are within Italy, what makes up an Italian differs greatly. In addition, the great influx of immigrants to Italy is greatly questioning this identity. Depending on where the future takes us and whom you talk to, this definition of what makes up a Roman or an Italian will likely change. 

Impressions of Rome/ Seattle Youth

In my first few days in Rome, I have noted many interesting interactions with the youth in Rome. These have occurred mostly through wandering the streets and interacting in my everyday activities. My most prominent memory of the youth here in Rome occurred last night while we were walking through the Campo after going out to dinner with a few of the classmates. Here, on a Saturday night, hundreds of teenagers gathered in the square in groups talking and hanging out. The atmosphere was vibrant, happy and full of life. Music played while groups of friends gathered on the statue as well as wooden blocks set up throughout the campo. People of drinking age flooded out of the bars and into the square and intermixed with the groups of youth. This memory stood out because this setting differs greatly from that of my experiences of the youth in Seattle as well as in other parts of the United States. In the states, even in the dead of winter, the youth usually does not gather in such a manner. Youth back at home would often gather at their parent’s house or in smaller groups in front of cafes or pizza places if the weather were nice. These events would be much less social and would spread across the entire town instead of centralized in one plaza.

Another time I noted Rome’s youth was while eating dinner in a small authentic restaurant. After wondering the streets near the Piazza Navona, we came across a small quaint restaurant filled with Italian families. At the table across from us, there were two small children who were around the age of 8. Throughout dinner these children kept to themselves, quietly ate their food and were often observing their American neighbors. They seemed to be independent of their parents and were not boisterous, as I would think children would be at a restaurant. Although this is only one case, these are the impressions of the Roman youth at dinners so far. In the states, I often find children constantly demanding the attention of their parents, being loud and making a scene at the restaurant. This is a major difference from the behaviors of the youth in Rome. Since this was only one instance, I will continue to observe the youth in the restaurant setting and note any differences. As we spend more and more time out in Rome, we will be able to get a better understanding of the normal behaviors and conducts of the youth in Rome.