'A School Must Rest On The Idea That All Children Are Different'

It is a dream that has become a reality largely because the region is one of Italy's richest, with a sturdy base of small and medium-size industry and agricultural production. The tax base supports the schools, but families pay $69 to $269 per month, depending on their income and the age of the child. Space is limited and not everyone gets in. Disabled children and those of single parents are admitted automatically; other admissions are based on interviews.

In class, each child's special qualities are recognized and nurtured. Teachers often leave a tape recorder on an activity table in order to learn how children are reasoning and expressing themselves. "It helps us understand better the diversity among children," says Vea Vecchi, a mother who started teaching 20 years ago and now oversees the staff at Diana. Each classroom also has a communication center--a series of white cardboard boxes with teachers' and students' names. "Three-year-olds will start out maybe by sending a piece of candy or colored paper to a friend," says Vecchi. "By the time they're 5, they're sending real letters." That's a splendid preparation for first grade-and for life.

© 1991