A Facebook post asking readers “What is the matter that is missing in the Italian school?” has ignited a robust discussion, revealing a mix of expectations, longing for traditional curricula, and a desire for contemporary skills.

Suggestions include bolstering artistic and humanistic subjects such as musica, History of art e theater, frequently enough seen as secondary but considered vital for cultivating culturally aware citizens. One teacher encapsulated a common sentiment, stating, “Italy has the most critically important artistic heritage in the world and yet the boys leave the school without ever having really studied it.”

Technologies, Languages, and Values Education

Many comments also emphasize the need for innovation. Calls are being made for increased focus on informatica, viewed as a basic skill applicable across disciplines, and for Economy and law, seen as essential for understanding today’s complex global landscape. Others advocate for strengthening the study of foreign languages, proposing a mandatory second language for all secondary school students. some even suggest introducing a subject simply called “Education” to impart rules of conduct, mutual respect, and skills for civil coexistence. Practical skills, such as lessons in etiquette, ranging from canteen behavior to community participation, are also highlighted.

“Italy has the most important artistic heritage in the world and yet the boys leave the school without ever having really studied it”

Balancing Nostalgia and Practicality

However, not everyone believes in adding to the already packed school curriculum. Many express concern about the system’s internal fragmentation, where numerous subjects are treated superficially, often sacrificed for interdisciplinary projects. From this viewpoint, the issue isn’t “what is missing” but “how to teach better what is already there,” from italian and mathematics to latino in high schools, with a call to reintroduce it across all five years to provide greater depth and consistency. Ultimately, a dialectical tension emerges between innovation and tradition: a push for new digital and civic skills versus a desire to strengthen the classical cultural foundation, avoiding the proliferation of subjects without ensuring genuine quality.