Author: Jan Horvath Jr.Location: StudenkaI am seventeen years old.When I had successfully completing the ninth grade of the Grammar School in Brno, my father enrolled me in the Higher Technical Library and Information Systems School. My story started there. When I began in September as a freshman I was the center of attention. I was […]
Learning
I survived, and I’ll survive other things too
Author: Lucie ConkovaLocation: Usti nad LabemThis happened about three years ago when I was a student at a Veterinary Senior High School in Hradec Kralove. It’s something that I will never forget. I would have never expected HIM to say that, the country boy who sat just behind me. Though I had always been aware […]
The teacher can make the biggest difference
Author: Zuzana Gaborova/Vera IvicovaLocation: BrnoToday Vera came to my office on her own to tell me about something that happened when she was little. She had forgotten about it, but she remembered today because her son had got into a similar situation – but we don’t know what will happen with him, so she’ll tell me that […]
Call him by his first name
Author: Jolana GaborovaLocation: BrnoOne day I went to a school as an assistant teacher.There was a Romani boy, Lubas, the head teacher warned me. He misbehaved."What does he do?” I asked.“He puts his legs up on the desks. He runs up and down the corridors. He doesn’t behave. I say to him, ‘Listen to me, […]
Problems should be solved where they occur
Author: Jan Horvath Sr.Location: StudenkaIf he were alive today, Jan Amos Komensky – Comenius – would be horrified to see the havoc in our Czech school system. The pupils are exposed every day to the stress and arrogance of teachers. It’s the price of living in these times. Money decides everything, and everyone runs after profit – no matter what the […]
I’m not a merchant: I’m a student!
Hana KozurikováBýchory11 July 2000In order to finish my third year at the School of Social Work in Prague, I had to work as an intern. The student social worker was supposed to accomplish two things: to learn a lot, and to perform a community service she could be proud of. I had always wanted to […]
I hope that she’ll be strong enough
Eva RidajovaNove StraseciAugust 2000 We are a Romany family. Most people in the Czech Republic say that there is no racism or discrimination here. They only say that because they have never experienced it themselves. That’s is why they are puzzled when they hear that Czechs are racists.I too used to think that I would […]
You need one on your black snout!
David SvarcPragueAugust 2000It is March 21, 2000 and the Pocaply ESN school has organized a trip to the zoo in Prague. There are several classes on the trip, including the class of a fourteen-year-old Romany boy Jirka Paluska. The bus leaves for Prague and everybody is looking forward to beautiful experiences. Jirka, comfortably seated in […]
Our hair is our pride
Zdenka SímováLysá nad LabemAugust 2000 This story was told to me by Mrs. Helena Prodanová, a member and employee of the Romany Association in Lysá nad Labem. She was very kind and ready to tell stories in a lively and rich manner. We met in a pleasant atmosphere of the Romany center in Lysá nad […]
They couldn’t save him
Author: Lucka BrandyovaLocation: Kolin[transcribed by Jan Horvath, Jr.]My friend Lukas came from a pretty decent family. His father worked, and his mother was on maternity leave. They never had any problems with him, but towards the end of school his grades got worse. Already by that time he had started going to the disco and […]
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