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Discrimination and the Roma Community 2014
serve to reinforce the negative image of the school by associating it with Roma students and social problems
and this would have a negative effect on the school’s future enrolment.
Despite the negative response we received to our request in which “fear” of losing non-Roma students at the
school was explicit, we highlighted the good cooperation we had observed on the part of the administration,
the counselling department and head teachers in coordinating with FSG staff members in implementing the
Promociona Programme and other inclusive and innovative teaching experiences.
9.
Huesca.
Education.
Direct discrimination.
At a meeting of the participation board of the Urban Initiative,
where the Huesca Town Council informs social organisations about investments made through this initiative,
the representative of the FSG requested that money be invested in the promotion of the Roma community,
especially in the area of education through the Promociona Programme.
The representative of the architects said, and we quote: “Schools already have the tools they need for Roma
to do well. The problem is that Roma have no interest at all in academic studies or vocational training.” The FSG
representative then told this person that his prejudiced comments were the product of his stereotypes and that
the Roma community had its particular idiosyncrasies requiring specific projects for its advancement.
After the meeting, the representative of the architects approached the FSG representative to clarify his position
and make it clear that he had nothing against the Roma community and had not wanted to offend anyone.
10.
Zaragoza.
Education.
Direct discrimination.
FSG workers at the Zaragoza office were caught by surprise
when an individual rebuked them saying: “We thought we should let you know that we are the only normal ones
in this neighbourhood, especially judging from what you have going on in there (alluding to the Roma children
participating in the after-school tutoring programme called Promociona).
The FSG staff members responded by saying that we are all normal but each person is what s/he is. The man
answered that in that neighbourhood people insulted and threatened others, making it clear that he was talking
about the Roma people living in the neighbourhood.
They then unsuccessfully tried to reason with the man and tell him that generalisations like these should be
avoided.
11.
Almeria.
Education.
Direct discrimination.
A Roma man approached the FSG office in Almeria to tell us that
his son had been pushed by one his classmates and as a result he broke his arm, was treated in the emergency
room and needed rehabilitation.
Since the accident happened at school, the father asked them to take responsibility for the medical assistance
and, when they refused, he filed a complaint.
The FSG’s Equality Department contacted the man’s lawyer to offer our support and counsel in terms of racial
and ethnic discrimination issues.
A hearing took place and the judge ruled in favour of the director of the school. The father of the injured child
disagreed with the ruling and felt discriminated against stating that “these things happen because we are Roma”.
In his view, the judge did not consider the evidence he proposed.
12.
Almeria.
Education.
Direct discrimination.
The mother of a child told us of how her son went to enrol at the
school where his older brother was enrolled and the administrator at the school instructed him to submit the
required documents the next day. Upon returning to submit the documents, he noticed that his name was on
the list and they even called his name in class but in the administrative office, when they realised who his older
brother was, they told him that there was no room for him.