woodleywonderworks via photopincc
One of the main goals and visions of the European integration, is the
creation of one federal Europe. There are many who oppose this and
support a nation state approach.
Unemployment, the economic crisis, negative press and of course the
reluctance of our national political elites to let go of power, have
seriously damaged the orientation and the purpose of this cause
recently.
So far, they attempted to create a pan-European identity or culture based
on the American model. A United States of Europe, inspired and copied
from USA. Our leaders try to integrate the populations of Europe
following the American "panacea".
In my opinion, instead of trying to "Americanize" Europeans, it would be
better to "Europeanize" them! Why make them feel less for their national
history, heritage, music, culture and lifestyle? It would be better to
project each others' cultural elements on each other!
History, as a tool for European identity
One way of achieving the above is by teaching European history and the
benefits or obligations of EU membership to all our pupils, in schools
across the continent. In this way, we create engaged and conscious EU
citizens as soon as they leave school, instead of having an apathetic
population.
If we explain to our students how the EU works and what it does for
them, then not only they would be informed but also be able to take
advantage of their European citizenship. Then populism and nationalism could
not settle as easy in their conscience.
European history with all its bad and good pages, is what unites us and
we should learn from it. Our collective history shaped the continent,
but our individual shaped each nation. I think the best way to
understand each other and learn about each others shortfalls, is to
actually examine both our collective and national history.
Hence, we will be able to reach to the root of a problem in each
country and potentially even solve it, while working together. Share
knowledge and experience to smooth any differences and inequality that
stand in the way of further integration.
How do you expect to integrate 27 (and soon more) total strangers?
Before the Soviet block collapsed, my generation hardly knew that
countries like Latvia or Estonia even existed. We never learned anything
about them, because they were in the Soviet block. Suddenly, they regained
their independence and joined the EU.
Nevertheless, all I remember about them when I was in school, is that these countries
were located where the U.S.S.R started on the map. How much of the
European population really saw 2004 as the year of European
reunification? How many knew the history of those "new" nations?
It is
not as if Lithuania suddenly sprang out of Russia. Still, people just saw
them as poor ex-communist populations that joined EU to work for us or
receive subsidies by our hard earned taxes!
If we studied about our history and each others culture, we would both
keep our national heritage, but also project it to another 500 million
Europeans across the continent. And of course, enrich our culture with
another 27 elements!
How to integrate immigrant children?
So far, not only we failed to promote European integration, but we failed
to integrate the immigrants in our societies too. Many European
countries are struggling to integrate their immigrant populations.
Instead of having separate religious schools for immigrant youths, we
should be putting our kids together from a young age, not segregate
them. Religion should be taught in a more generic and
academic/philosophical content, instead as a dogma that must be
followed.
In the case of other European immigrant children, we could promote a
more multilingual education. Why set up separate language schools that
youngsters must attend to learn their native language, but not to have
optional classes within the state schools in areas with high populations
of expatriates? They could opt in for classes of their mother tongue in
the same school for example. Not just them, but any student that
wished to learn a new language.
The teachers of those classes could come from any EU country, but should
be employed by the state that the immigrants reside in. So far, in most
cases, it is the responsibility of the country of origin to send
teachers to the expatriate populations across Europe. Why we make
immigrant children feel different from a young age?
To conclude, European integration must go hand in hand with the
education of its youth. Being a pupil in a European school should be an
exciting learning experience, that offers the best qualifications for
the future. It also exposes the young in a more collective way of
thinking, cosmopolitanism, tolerance and active citizenship.
