Higgins (2013) reports on the segregation of Rroma children in Slovak schools. In the community Šarišské Michaľany in eastern Slovakia everything was segregated at the start of the headmaster’s tenure. Rroma children were playing on a separate playground, ate lunch separately from the white children and were placed in separate classrooms, officially due to different education levels. Higgins compares the fight against the segregation of Rroma with efforts to achieve racial equality in the United States in the 1950s. In Slovakia, the efforts to achieve equality are waged primarily through the courts. In spite of his advocacy for legal action, the headmaster of the school is described to be leaning more towards cultural mediation. He opened the school canteen for Rroma children, suppressed the segregated playgrounds as well as the rule that forbade Rroma parents to enter the school building. Common classes and teaching is still in its early stages. This process must be done slowly, as otherwise white Slovaks flee the school to go to other ones reinforcing racism and segregation. The prejudices of participating parties are deeply rooted. The Rroma, due to the prolonged segregation,  are reported now as having a wall in their minds.

Source:

• Higgins, Andrew (2013) In Its Efforts to Integrate Roma, Slovakia Recalls U.S. Struggles. In: New York Times vom 9.5.2013. 

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