"There is one thing that has not been done at school for a long time: learning poetic compositions by heart. It was something I used to wonder about: why do I have to make this effort? But decades later I repeat them to myself and it makes me happy. Everything one acquires is freedom, culture sets you free." This was stated by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in an interview with students from the school of Amatrice during the celebrations for the inauguration of the school year. The president also revealed that his favourite subject at school was history and that he had poor handwriting.
"There can never be a machine to replace a teacher, no matter how intelligent that machine may be. When a student raises their hand, the teacher understands whether they are doing it to waste time or to better understand a concept, or whether they are asking a question; the teacher understands whether the student is unprepared or is trying to express a concept more clearly — a machine could hardly do that. You yourselves have operated a machine, not the other way around," the head of state emphasised.
Mattarella said that history was his favourite subject and that he shares with Alberto Angela, beyond a love of history, "also terrible handwriting." "Look to the future with confidence — my generation has witnessed unimaginable transformations. Never look to the past. Best wishes," Mattarella concluded.
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