Greece: School strike on Samos

Eight o'clock in the morning, a cool spring day in Ano Vathy. Here, in this quiet, hilly area of ​​the town of Samos on the island of the same name, there is usually a lot of activity around this time when parents and students flock to elementary school from all directions.

But hardly anyone comes to school that morning, housed in a beautiful old building. Large courtyard, overlooking the azure waters of the bay. When the school bell rings at 8:15 am, not more than a dozen students stand in line for morning prayers, part of the daily ritual in every Greek school.

The reason for the emptiness in the schoolyard: Since the beginning of March, most parents of Ano Vathy elementary school no longer send their children to class. So they want to protest against the fact that the school has taken 14 children from the completely overcrowded refugee camps of the island in integration classes.

On average, only 20 to 35 students a day attended Ano Vathy Elementary School in the past two weeks, or 150 otherwise. Other parents in Vathy and other schools in Samos have joined the boycott.

Parents fear health risks

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The reason for the boycott: According to the parents, the migrant children living in the camp allegedly pose a health risk to their own children. "These children live in miserable conditions in the camp, with rats and all sorts of diseases." We do not feel secure when we have our own bring their own children to school, "said a father who supports the action and wants to remain anonymous, the SPIEGEL.

One day later, on Thursday, the boycott of parent associations is suspended - but only for the time being. This is a "gesture of goodwill," they say, to give politicians time to deal with their parents' concerns - and to give their own children the opportunity to attend the parades and celebrations on March 25, the Greek national holiday.

But the parents warn: They would mobilize more people for their protests, politicians should not take their demands seriously. Children from the refugee camp are no longer allowed to attend the integration classes until they live in reasonable conditions and are therefore "safe" for other children.

"Absolute nonsense"

In fact, the living conditions in the refugee camp on the so-called hotspot island of Samos are dramatic. The number of asylum seekers who arrived on the island via Turkey is high. The camp, originally built for some 650 people, currently has more than 4,000 refugees, including hundreds of minors. This causes unrest among the population.

However, the claim that the children living in the camp pose a health risk is strictly rejected by the government and health authorities.

"What these parents claim is utter nonsense: all refugee children were examined by a pediatrician before going to school, they have vaccination papers, they pose no danger to anyone," said Nikos Kaklamanis, a doctor at Samos Public Hospital, in an interview with SPIEGEL.

The real motives of the parents, says Kaklamanis, are probably different. He believes that the boycott of the boycott, although suspended, reflects the growing rejection of the local population against asylum seekers on Samos. "One thing is certain: there is a disgusting turn to intolerance and racism on our island."

There are three categories of parents: "Some are simply racists and xenophobes, others are misinformed, and the third group are harassed and harassed by the others, who are simply scared that they and their children will be targeted if they do take her to school. "

Separate lessons, separate toilets

The refugee children, often traumatized by war and persecution in their home countries, as well as a dangerous trip to Europe, are doubly punished: firstly by the terrible living conditions in the camp, secondly by the fact that they clearly in the few hours they spend in a public school be separated from other children.

Only 28 children from the refugee camp attend public elementary schools in Samos. The Greek children do not come into direct contact with the refugee children at all. Their classes take place at other times in the afternoon.

There are even own toilets for the children from the camp. But that does not suffice the worried parents. They want the young migrants to go to other, separate schools - at least until they are no longer in the camp.

"Seeding intolerance"

The government sharply criticizes the boycott. In an open letter, Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas called on parents to "stop the punishment of their children" and "to refrain from sowing intolerance in their tender souls". Vitsas attributes the boycott to the attempt to create "a climate of xenophobia and racism" on the island.

The parents who supported the boycott and spoke with SPIEGEL reject it. They are not racists, their protests would also benefit the refugee children. The boycott of the school puts pressure on politics and ensures that the children are housed in decent conditions.

But, such a mother, as long as this was not the case, she would leave her own children at home. "At the moment, nobody can guarantee that children living in such conditions will not bring diseases to the campus."

It is difficult to convey to the refugee children: "You are wondering where the Greek children stayed in school," says Maria Theodosiou, who organizes the school attendance of the children from the camp. "The teachers then avoid clear answers so as not to hurt the feelings of the refugee children."