Pina the teacher

My name is Cannistraro Giuseppina but for everyone, on the island, I am simply the teacher Pina.

For forty years I have taught the children of Favignana and, of each of them, I remember faces and stories: and how could it be otherwise? You can forget the names and faces of people you know for work, but for me teaching has never been a job. For forty years, in the school of Favignana, I raised my students and they helped me grow. Each of them is a part of me, the children loved me and I loved them: how could I forget them?

When I started teaching, the school seemed almost like an enchanted place: the children happily attended and faced the learning difficulties with a smile.

I have never rejected anyone: when, after the 1977 reform, we passed from the single teacher to modular teaching (a madness! Children of that age need clear reference points, not a multitude of teachers!), several times I had to discuss with colleagues who wanted to reject a student left behind. If a child does not achieve the goals, a teacher should always remember that the responsibility is his: rejecting a student would mean rejecting myself. I am happy to be always able to carry on my students without subjecting them to the stigma of a rejection: often children only need a little more time and attention to be able to discover their talents. One of the children my colleagues wanted to fail is now a psychology graduate: I'm happy to have trusted him.

When I started teaching, the school seemed almost like an enchanted place

Do not believe, however, that things were always simple: sometimes I had to fight to give an education to my students. When I started teaching, in fact, some children started very early to work in the fields and on fishing boats to help their family, thus failing to attend school. I remember one of these children, at the age of six it was useful to keep the sheep grazing, skipping the school: when I understood the situation, I decided to intervene. I left the class in custody of a colleague, I went up on my 500 and went to recover the young shepherd; I managed to convince his father to let him come to school and now he is the only one of six brothers who can read and write.

I retired 6 years ago, having asked to postpone the time of withdrawal. Now I dedicate myself to the family and take advantage of the time available to satisfy my curiosity of places that I previously knew only through books; I travel and I go to discover of the world.

But, after all, I am a patiddrazza, a large limped attached to a rock: Favignana always calls me to her.