Hungarian schools are increasingly segregating Roma children. The report is chilling.
– Growing segregation of Roma children in Hungary. In: Hungarian Free Press. 21.05.2018. http://hungarianfreepress.com/2018/05/21/growing-segregation-of-roma-children-in-hungary/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianfreepress.com/2018/05/21/growing-segregation-of-roma-children-in-hungary/”]
The Roma Monitoring Report, prepared for the European Commission notes several cases of blatant segregation in the Slovak school system. Children are put in special school (nothing new), and teachers of such schools were even documented offering bribes to the parents to get the children in their schools. In many cases, the children were almost automatically “diagnosed” with mental illness, boosting the revenue of the school.
Clearly, these schools do not do much in matters of education.
SHAME!
– Segregácia Rómov sa presúva zo základných škôl už aj na stredné. In: Slovensko Honline. 25.04.2018. https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1734001-segregacia-romov-sa-presuva-zo-zakladnych-skol-uz-aj-na-stredne [link-preview url=”https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1734001-segregacia-romov-sa-presuva-zo-zakladnych-skol-uz-aj-na-stredne”]
A Slovak teacher simply refused to grade racist essays. Good! Read the interview.
– Slovakia: Meet the Romani teacher who refused to grade racist essays. In: Romea. 14.04.2018. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-meet-the-romani-teacher-who-refused-to-grade-racist-essays# [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-meet-the-romani-teacher-who-refused-to-grade-racist-essays#”]
A recent statistic from the World Bank in the Western Balkans shows some improvements in schooling for Roma but also shows an increasing gap between Roma and Gadže regarding health and work.
– Roma integration in the Western Balkans still far away. In: The Brussels Times. 11.04.2018. http://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/10960/roma-integration-in-the-western-balkans-still-far-away [link-preview url=”http://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/10960/roma-integration-in-the-western-balkans-still-far-away”]
Mateo Salvini, the current Italian leader of the Lega Nord – the far right party which won a large number of seats in the recent Italian elections found nothing better than to comment on the International Roma day by saying:
“if many of them worked more and stole less, if many of them sent their children to school instead of teaching them to steal, then it really would be something to celebrate”.
No further comments.
– Italy’s far-right League marks International Roma Day by telling them to “work more and steal less”. In: Il Globo. 09.04.2018. http://ilglobo.com.au/news/38209/italys-far-right-league-marks-international-roma-day-by-telling-them-to-work-more-and-steal-less/
– Try stealing less, League head tells Roma. In: Pulse Live. 08.04.2018. http://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/try-stealing-less-italian-league-head-tells-roma-id8222907.html
– Try stealing less, Italian League head tells Roma. In: The Malay Mail. 08.04.2018. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/try-stealing-less-italian-league-head-tells-roma
– Try stealing less, Italian League head tells Roma. In: Le Journal du Cameroon. 08.04.2018. https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/try-stealing-less-italian-league-head-tells-roma/ [link-preview url=”https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/try-stealing-less-italian-league-head-tells-roma/”]
One speaks too little about them, but the Domari – the Middle Eastern cousins of Roma suffered tremendously from IS. In one of their villages the school was reconstructed recently in Iraq.
Good but the press should use the proper name instead of calling them “Gypsies” in a more politically correct fashion.
– Iraqi Roma village school reopens 14 years after destruction. In : The Jordan Times. 29.03.2018. http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/iraqi-roma-village-school-reopens-14-years-after-destruction [link-preview url=”http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/iraqi-roma-village-school-reopens-14-years-after-destruction”]
Nils Muižneks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights has stated that segregated education leads to poor outcomes and prevents Roma children as well as disabled children from joining society. It is to be noted that Slovakia often segregates Roma children into schools for children with disabilities.
The Commissioner urged the Slovak authorities to address, on a broader scale, the persistent segregation in the education of children with disabilities as well as Roma children and to apply inclusive an education.
– Muižnieks: Vzdelávanie Rómov a detí s postihnutím potrebuje víziu. In: Dobre Noviny. 17.03.2018. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/127312/muiznieks-vzdelavanie-romov-a-deti-s-postihnutim-potrebuje-viziu [link-preview url=”https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/127312/muiznieks-vzdelavanie-romov-a-deti-s-postihnutim-potrebuje-viziu”]
The Council of Europe chided Ukraine on the continuing discrimination of Roma in that country. The Advisory Committee recommends that the Ukrainian authorities immediately enact appropriate legislation to protect national minorities; promote respect and fight against = stereotypes in political discourse and society as a whole; provide firm legal guarantees for the protection and use of all minority languages; help in stopping the constant segregation of Roma children in schools and ensuring that the rights of national minorities will not be limited due to changes in administrative boundaries.
Let’s see …
– Совет Европы обеспокоен дискриминацией ромов в Украине. In: Komsomolskaja Pravda. 16.03.2018. https://kp.ua/politics/603512-sovet-evropy-obespokoen-dyskrymynatsyei-romov-v-ukrayne [link-preview url=”https://kp.ua/politics/603512-sovet-evropy-obespokoen-dyskrymynatsyei-romov-v-ukrayne”]
A chilling article on the treatment of Roma children in schools in Hungary. The testimonies were given in the context of a lawsuit against a school.
This will have little chances of succeeding, unfortunately.
– Roma children systematically humiliated in Hungary’s segregated schools. In: Budapest Beacon. 15.03.2018. https://budapestbeacon.com/roma-children-systematically-humiliated-in-hungarys-segregated-schools/ [link-preview url=”https://budapestbeacon.com/roma-children-systematically-humiliated-in-hungarys-segregated-schools/”]
Good intentions – getting poor Roma children to school, wrong presentation, especially for Bulgaria. This country had until recently one of the most integrated Roma minority with many of them having completed higher education.
Roma in Bulgaria are Orthodox or Moslems. Why convert them? Religion and humanitarian help are not the best friends.
– Bulgaria: ACN project encourages Roma children to go to school. In: Independent Catholic News. 12.03.2018. https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/34499 [link-preview url=”https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/34499″]
A further twist on the fate of the 100 Roma who were evacuated following a fire in their housing estate and who are now lodged in a cinema. The city council needs to vote on funds to buy container housing as an “interim” solution, and meanwhile, children are returning to school after their spring break.
– Žiaci potrebujú od pondelka školu na učenie. Rómov presťahovali do Kina Máj. In: Poprad 24. 03.03.2018. http://poprad.dnes24.sk/ziaci-potrebuju-od-pondelka-skolu-na-ucenie-romov-prestahovali-do-kina-maj-292985
– Stovku Rómov, ktorí prišli po požiari o bývanie, presťahovali do kina. In: Spiš Korzar. 03.03.2018. https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20772823/stovku-romov-ktori-prisli-po-poziari-o-byvanie-prestahovali-do-kina.html [link-preview url=”https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20772823/stovku-romov-ktori-prisli-po-poziari-o-byvanie-prestahovali-do-kina.html”]
108 Roma lost their homes after a fire gutter a housing estate in Matejovce, in the Poprad region on February 22nd. The Roma were initially housed in a school but have now been moved to a cinema. There is no permanent situation in sight, and this at a time where the weather is extremely bad.
– Rómov, ktorí prišli po požiari v Poprade o bývanie, presťahovali do kina. In: Spravy Pravda. 03.03.2018. https://spravy.pravda.sk/regiony/clanok/460820-romov-ktori-prisli-po-poziari-v-poprade-o-byvanie-prestahovali-do-kina/ [link-preview url=”https://spravy.pravda.sk/regiony/clanok/460820-romov-ktori-prisli-po-poziari-v-poprade-o-byvanie-prestahovali-do-kina/”]
A large Roma camp was closed this week in Sainte Luce sur Loire in Western France, prompting many articles in the press. On a more positive note, an article about an “integration village” in the region of Nantes highlights the fact that expulsions are not the right way to deal with Roma camps. Near Paris, a new camp was established in Houilles; in Ris Oranigies, the Roma left their camp for a site that is classified as extremely toxic; along the Marne river, near a Roma camp, a huge clean-up of garbage has been organised; and in Saint Denis, a hospital gives shelters. In the North of France, a house where squatters lived burnt down; a mayor’s tongue slipped – he compared one of his opponent to Roma and it was not meant to be a compliment; an association is ready to collaborate with the prefect; an initiative of a travelling school; and finally an initiative of students who are helping school children.
– Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire : un camp de roms évacué. In: FR3 Pays de la Loire. 02.03.2018. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/pays-de-la-loire/loire-atlantique/sainte-luce-loire-camp-roms-evacue-1433873.html
– Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire Un camp de Roms expulsé vendredi matin. In: Presse Océan. 02.03.2018. http://www.presseocean.fr/actualite/sainte-luce-sur-loire-un-camp-de-roms-expulse-ce-vendredi-matin-02-03-2018-264022
– Roms expulsés : 42 caravanes sur le bord de la route près de Nantes. In: Ouest France. 03.03.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/roms-expulses-42-caravanes-sur-le-bord-de-la-route-pres-de-nantes-5601271
– Évacuation du camp de Roms à la Minais. In: Ouest France. 03.03.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/sainte-luce-sur-loire-44980/evacuation-du-camp-de-roms-la-minais-5600890
– Les camps de Roms évacués à Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire ce matin. In: Nantes Maville. 02.03.3018. https://nantes.maville.com/actu/actudet_-les-camps-de-roms-evacues-a-sainte-luce-sur-loire-ce-matin_52716-3392777_actu.Htm
– Nantes: ” Quand on expulse les Roms, on ne fait que repousser le problème “. In: 20 Minutes (FR). 26.02.2018. https://www.20minutes.fr/nantes/2226807-20180226-nantes-quand-expulse-roms-fait-repousser-probleme
– Houilles : le bidonville de Roms inquiète les riverains. In: 78 Actu. 28.02.2018. https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/houilles_78311/houilles-bidonville-roms-inquiete-riverains_15690856.html
– Ris-Orangis : les Roms quittent leur campement de l’A6 pour un site Seveso. In: Le Parisien. 28.02.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/essonne-91/ris-orangis-les-roms-quittent-leur-campement-de-l-a6-pour-un-site-seveso-28-02-2018-7583778.php
– Ris-Orangis : les Roms partis des abords de l’A6 s’installent … sur un site classé Seveso. In: Évasion. 01.03.2018. https://www.evasionfm.com/actualite-32858-ris-orangis-les-roms-partis-des-abords-de-l-a6-s-installent-sur-un-site-classe-seveso.html
– Saint-Thibault-des-Vignes / Pomponne ► Décharge et camp rom : dimanche, ils vont ” oser ” le grand nettoyage. In: Magjournal. 02.03.2018. http://www.magjournal77.fr/saint-thibault-vignes-pomponne-decharge-et-camp-rom-dimanche-ils-vont-oser-le-grand-nettoyageecharge-camp-rom-dimanche-oser-grand-nettoyage/
– Saint-Thibault-des-Vignes : un bateau aidera les nettoyeurs des bords de Marne. In: Le Parisien. 02.03.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/saint-thibault-des-vignes-un-bateau-aidera-les-nettoyeurs-des-bords-de-marne-02-03-2018-7587117.php
– Pomponne. Le camp de Roms et les berges seront nettoyés. In: Actu. 28.01.2018. https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/pomponne_77372/pomponne-camp-roms-berges-seront-nettoyes_15707329.html
– Saint-Denis : l’hôpital Delafontaine fait une place aux sans-abri. In: Le Parisien. 27.02.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/saint-denis-l-hopital-delafontaine-fait-une-place-aux-sans-abri-27-02-2018-7582383.php
– Une maison désaffectée s’embrase rue de l’espérance. In: La Voix du Nord. 27.02.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/325479/article/2018-02-27/une-maison-desaffectee-s-embrase-rue-de-l-esperance
– Quand Gérard Caudron compare les Mulliez à des Roms… In: La Voix du Nord. 27.02.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/325470/article/2018-02-27/quand-gerard-caudron-compare-les-mulliez-des-roms
– Le collectif Solidarité Roms prêt à travailler avec la prefecture. In: La Voix du Nord. 26.02.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/324747/article/2018-02-26/le-collectif-solidarite-roms-pret-travailler-avec-la-prefecture
– Au bord de la route, l’école ambulante où les enfants roms font leurs classes. In: La Voix du Nord. 25.02.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/323906/article/2018-02-25/au-bord-de-la-route-l-ecole-ambulante-ou-les-enfants-roms-font-leurs-classes
– Des étudiants s’engagent auprès d’enfants roms. In: La Vie. 28.02.2018. http://www.lavie.fr/solidarite/initiatives/des-etudiants-s-engagent-aupres-d-enfants-roms-28-02-2018-88392_815.php [link-preview url=”https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/pays-de-la-loire/loire-atlantique/sainte-luce-loire-camp-roms-evacue-1433873.html “]
An article about one of the first Roma school which opened in Uzhgorod in 1926, at that time in Czechoslovakia. It also describes the osada in the city and the living conditions. A good read.
– Втрачений Ужгород: як у місті відкрили першу в Європі ромську школу (Фото). In: Prozahid. 17.02.2018. http://prozahid.com/content-56914.html [link-preview url=”http://prozahid.com/content-56914.html”]
The controversy that followed casting a white student in the role of Esmeralda in the play based on Victor Hugo’s novel on the Hunchback of Notre Dame has made it to the front page of major newspapers in the US. Several students of the high school which scheduled the play managed to have it cancelled, saying that casting a “white” student in the role of a Romni was racist or at least cultural appropriation. Reactions against them were really bad and of course, Breitbart also pitched in.
What does it have to do with Roma: Well, actually not much, as the only thing that links Roma to this controversy is the fact that they are depicted in a play … Let’s hope that they are not the un-intended victims of this controversy.
– Casting Controversy Derailed a High School Play. Then Came the Threats. In: The New York Times. 08.02.2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/theater/hunchback-of-notre-dame-ithaca-high-school.html
– High School Cancels ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ Production After White Student Cast as Lead. In: Breitbart. 05.08.2018. http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/02/05/high-school-cancels-hunchback-of-notre-dame-production-after-white-student-cast-as-lead/
– ‘QUITE DISTURBING’: National coverage of Ithaca High’s play controversy brings threats. In: The Ithaca Journal. 08.02.2018. http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2018/02/08/national-coverage-ithacas-hunchback-controversy-results-doxxing-threats/320826002/
– Ithaca High School pulls ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ over casting diversity outcry. The Ithaca Journal. 29.01.2018. http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2018/01/29/new-project-planned-place-ithaca-musical-hunchback-notre-dame-cancelled-amid-outcry-diversify-castin/1074212001/ [link-preview url=”https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/theater/hunchback-of-notre-dame-ithaca-high-school.html “]
There is a real media frenzy lately in Slovakia regarding the so-called “Roma Crime” and many suggestions of populists “solutions” to this “problem”. One of them is again the idea of setting up boarding schools. They are presented as a mean to help Roma get a better education and at reducing crime (yes). Arguments against these schools are presented here by Abel Ravasz, the Roma plenipotentiary in Slovakia.
Unfortunately, this has already been tried under communism. And, as these boarding schools were 100% Roma, the level of education provided was really low. This will happen again here. It is simply an attempt at assimilation.
– Namiesto zombi riešení pre Rómov urobme to, čo funguje. In: Dennik. 02.02.2018. https://dennikn.sk/1017448/namiesto-zombi-rieseni-pre-romov-urobme-to-co-funguje/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/1017448/namiesto-zombi-rieseni-pre-romov-urobme-to-co-funguje/”]
More news this week in France on Roma. Main news is the subject of another post … Other than that, the mayor of the town of Sucy is again in front of the judges (third instance) for having denied Roma children the right to go to school. Let’s hope she is definitively condemned. Near Paris, in the Essons, a fire in a Roma camp injured three people. In Lille, in the North, a camp will be definitively closed. In Sètes, in the South West of France, 62 people were moved from a camp into temporary dwellings while in Montpellier, 40 Roma delegates invited themselves to a meeting of the city council. Finally, in Montpellier too, the story of an abduction of a dog by Roma. This story is doing the rounds in France, unfortunately.
– Nouveau procès pour la maire accusée de refuser des enfants roms à l’école. In: L’Express. 31.01.2018. https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/nouveau-proces-pour-la-maire-accusee-de-refuser-des-enfants-roms-a-l-ecole_1981154.html
– Scolarisation d’enfants roms : la maire de Sucy sera à nouveau jugée. In: Le Parisien. 02.02.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/val-de-marne-94/scolarisation-d-enfants-roms-la-maire-de-sucy-sera-a-nouveau-jugee-02-02-2018-7537392.php
– Vauhallan : deux femmes et un enfant brûlés dans l’incendie du camp de Roms. In: Le Parisien. 28.01.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/essonne-91/vauhallan-deux-femmes-et-un-enfant-brules-dans-l-incendie-du-camp-de-roms-28-01-2018-7527600.php
– Essonne : 3 blessés graves, dont un bébé, dans l’incendie d’un campement Rom. In: Europe 1. 29.01.2018. http://www.europe1.fr/faits-divers/essonne-3-blesses-graves-dont-un-bebe-dans-lincendie-dun-campement-rom-3558974
– Bidonville de l’Esplanade : des Roms finalement ” invités ” à partir et non expulsés ? In: La Voix du Nord. 30.01.2018. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/307906/article/2018-01-30/bidonville-de-l-esplanade-des-roms-finalement-invites-partir-et-non-expulses
– Sète : la deuxième phase du transfert du camp s’est bien déroulée. In: Midi Libre. 02.02.2018. http://www.midilibre.fr/2018/02/01/sete-la-deuxieme-phase-du-transfert-du-camp-s-est-bien-deroulee,1622170.php
– Montpellier : quand les gitans s’invitent au conseil municipal. In: Midi Libre. 03.02.2018. http://www.midilibre.fr/2018/02/02/montpellier-quand-les-gitans-s-invitent-au-conseil-municipal,1622779.php
– Des Roms volent son chien et lui réclament une rançon. In: Wamiz. 30.01.2018. https://wamiz.com/chiens/actu/roms-volent-chien-reclament-ran-12014.html [link-preview url=”https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/nouveau-proces-pour-la-maire-accusee-de-refuser-des-enfants-roms-a-l-ecole_1981154.html “]
Some people in Slovakia suggest boarding schools as a solution to Roma education and crime (yes). A school head of a school attended by nearly 700 Roma is against this.
Good for him!
– Problémy Rómov môžu riešiť internátne školy, riaditeľka je proti. In: TA3. 22.01.2018. https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1120532/problemy-romov-mozu-riesit-internatne-skoly-riaditelka-je-proti.html [link-preview url=”https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1120532/problemy-romov-mozu-riesit-internatne-skoly-riaditelka-je-proti.html”]
Slovenia is trying to introduce measures including penalties for parents whose children do not attend school.
This is not a solution.
– Kazni za romske starše. In: Mladina. 12.01.2018. http://www.mladina.si/183647/kazni-za-romske-starse/ [link-preview url=”http://www.mladina.si/183647/kazni-za-romske-starse/”]
Seems that Roma have simply vanished in France, and that the problem of the ca. 20’000 Roma that make the headlines have vanished overnight.
Probably too many other news this week!
Nevertheless, in Marseille, two classes of young Roma children had a week in the mountain as part of the school curriculum. And an interesting article about the shantytowns in France, their history, current situation and the impact on society.
– “Les petits oubliés de Marseille“ et ”Grandir, ensemble”. In: FR3. 11.01.2018. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/emissions/enquetes-region/petits-oublies-marseille-grandir-ensemble-1399009.html
– Les bidonvilles, “réservoirs urbains de problèmes… et de solutions”. In: Télérama. 08.01.2018. http://www.telerama.fr/idees/les-bidonvilles,-reservoirs-urbains-de-problemes…-et-de-solutions,n5429725.php [link-preview url=”https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/emissions/enquetes-region/petits-oublies-marseille-grandir-ensemble-1399009.html “]
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