Educational Integration in the Czech Republic

We, the undersigned members and friends of the Harvard University Rromany Students and Supporters Association (www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hurssa) hereby call for the desegregation of the Czech public school system. We find it unjustifiable that the majority of Romani children is effectively labeled as mentally retarded by being placed into "special" programs. We ask that the percentage of Romani pupils in "special" schools or classes be approximately the same as the percentage of non-Romani children in these tracks. We support additional educational programs for Roma as long as full integration in mainstream classes is enforced. Both of the excuses used to explain the overwhelming placement of Roma into special schools language and parental preference are untenable. Even if a Romani pupil is lacking in verbal skills, this should not result in an inferior education any more than it would for a foreign-born child. There are many documented cases of Romani children being placed into special schools against the parents initial or final wishes. When parents do give their consent or even request such a placement (usually on the basis of childrens "comfort" as a result of existing de facto segregation), this is in no way an acceptable reason for special tracking. A child with normal sight would not be accepted into a school for the blind, regardless of opinions voiced by parents or teachers. Therefore, a child who is not mentally handicapped should not be allowed into a class for mentally retarded pupils.

Furthermore, we ask for positive images of Roma, Vietnamese immigrants, and other disadvantaged minorities to be included prominently in all aspects of the school system. Information about these groups should not be treated as an occasional, separate topic, but should be permanently integrated into the curriculum and made visible in most textbooks. This includes pictures, names, literature, history, music, art, and other cultural products, as well as ongoing education about interethnic conflict, racism, nationalism, and prejudice. We pledge not to invest in the Czech economy and to spread awareness of the above-named deficiencies until the educational horizons of all students in the Czech Republic are noticeably expanded.