PALERMO (ITALPRESS) – President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella made a surprise visit to Palermo’s “Edmondo De Amicis-Leonardo Da Vinci” school at its headquarters on Via Serradifalco in the Noce-Malaspina neighborhood. The head of state particularly spoke with the children of the 5th C, a multi-ethnic primary class, whose pupils were subjected to insults and racially motivated comments in October while participating in the “Io leggo perchè” initiative in the center of Palermo.
Far from embarrassed by the presence of the distinguished guest (the visit had been kept secret by school head Giovanna Genco), they asked the president some questions and handed him some gifts. A large tricolor stood out on the classroom blackboard.
The children then escorted the president to the main hall, where the orchestra of secondary class children played two pieces by Giuseppe Verdi, the Gypsy Chorus from La Traviata and the “Va, pensiero” from Nabucco.
“Living together, dialoguing, makes one grow, I address a heartfelt thank you to your teachers. Teaching is a difficult but exhilarating endeavor,” the president told the 300 or so children at the end of the meeting.
“You are great, you performed these two pieces masterfully, and it is not easy with so many string, wind, and percussion instruments. Congratulations to your teachers and congratulations to you,” said the head of state, addressing the orchestra that had performed the two pieces. “Music and culture are the vehicle of life, coexistence, openness, personal and collective growth, all of them together,” he added. “For me it is great satisfaction to be here and to congratulate you.
“I every year go to a school for the opening of the school year. But it is not often that I visit schools on other occasions. I am delighted to be here this morning and thank you for what you do, wishing you well in your studies and your future,” the president explained. I thank your teachers once again for what they pass on to you, how they guide you in your cultural growth. You are a school that with reading, music and other cultural growth initiatives expresses the true values of coexistence in our country and in the world, which is increasingly united, connected, increasingly borderless. It is a richness to grow together, to exchange opinions, habits, ideas. Listening to others makes one grow and you are doing that, so congratulations and best wishes.”
– Quirinal press office photo –
(ITALPRESS).
