- Competition and questioning between ikastolas and public schools are spreading worryingly in many of our peoples, as well as between different actors in the educational community. Disqualifications and contempt without mutual image. From time to time, even in some opinion articles, I read very dogmatic expressions.
I'm not worried about the debate, because it can be very enriching and there should be a lot more about education, because it's a strategic issue for the future of Euskal Herria. But I am concerned about the attitude, because I see partial discussions and statements lightly and, above all, a lack of respect for others, who work very hard in the field of education.
I am referring to expressions that have been made lightly, such as, for example, that the movement of the ikastolas over the last fifty years has done in favour of the Basque Country and of the Basque culture and that the work that continues to be carried out today has been forgotten or neglected in four words. Because to say that it is a private educational movement arising from the popular initiative and claiming that it should be given a private treatment or not to take into account the contributions it has made to the Basque Country, to pedagogy and to the school model, is to analyze reality in a very partial way.
Likewise, it is an injustice not to recognize the contribution of the public school to the dissemination of Euskera, as it has been a milestone in the natural expansion of Euskera in society. And, of course, to ensure equality and integration of society, it is miserable not to applaud the immense work of the public school. In the same sense, it is an infamia that is called "school of administration" and the work that is being done in many towns and neighborhoods along the path of another school model is put to an end.
In all this, in some cases, there is too much human misery on the part of each other, because behind so-called serious discussions there are self-interest, such as competition in registration in some cases, self-interest in certain jobs, or personal experience and experiences. Because, when we use others to disqualify, we make absurd some opinions that may be legitimate.
But basically, there's an idea that we have to clarify and debate, and that's the public, which I think we all too often analyze in part and out of context.
There is an idea that needs to be clarified and discussed in depth, and that is what I think advertising is, which we too often analyze in part and out of context.
From the 19th century to the present, the concept of advertising has been linked only to the Administration. Thus, in France and Spain there are two types of schools, private and public, nobody feels discriminated against, because it reflects the reality well. But in the history of the Basque Country there is a curious phenomenon, unique throughout Europe: "The impact of popular initiative on education." And when this popular initiative is varied and broad, when it offers an open service to all, when the superior control of the administration approves it, and also the will of the agents is that it be public, it is not understandable that the reality of public nature is not recognized.
The Administration offers us, on behalf of the people, basic public services such as health, education, pensions, social services for children and adults, resources for the disabled... But what happens when society itself intervenes in these services and offers them in a broad and collaborative way with the administration? When there is no private business, is citizenship not equal to that of the public? What is more, does the popular initiative not provide an additional complement to advertising?
Yes, I know that the key to ownership must be liberated. But what makes the citizens' initiative unthinkable as public? Can we not adapt the concept of advertising to the new reality? Will we always dominate those outside? Are the laws of the Spanish and French inevitably our only references? When is legislation respectful of the organizational models created as a people?
For all the people who want to transform society, it is a basic exercise to recognise the need for popular initiative. The situation cannot be changed unless the auzolan and popular initiative are strengthened. Without the direct prominence of parents, teachers and citizens we will never have a national education and euskaldun.La popular initiative is necessary to strengthen movements such as Euskaraldia, normalize Euskera and build a proper and new educational system that belongs to us as a nation.
Both ikastolas and public schools have a lot to learn. Both are the pillars of the New School that we dream of. We will build the new from the current reality. And if we act from mutual respect, we'll earn a lot. Despair is a sterile path. We have to work together, giving up moving. The responsibility we have here is enormous.