•
Rating: In my Debaserian journey, which has recently reached the milestone of eighty reviews, there is a modest group of literary analyses ranging from my personal "ramblings" on the great classics (how could I not keep from virtual oblivion the infamous description of "The Metamorphosis" by Apuleius?) to pseudo-sociological reinterpretations of comics, cartoons, and various other light-hearted "stuff." Perhaps due to foolish inertia, or perhaps to avoid publishing new Apuleius-style tomes (and here the Debaserian community would lynch me without much pleading), I intend to remain fixed on the catalog of "literary lightheartedness," introducing a work that surely won't be subjected to forced study in schoolbooks, yet forms an extraordinary connection with the school world, abdicated by me and many others years ago, filled with laughter, disbelief, and a pinch of "terror."
Without getting lost in too many pointless words, the four walls that should guarantee the infinite mass of students education, culture, and strict discipline are not what they used to be: the abacus has been replaced by scientific calculators equipped with thousands of functions ranging from the "on" button to sin(x), the long sticks once used to violently bash the knuckles of the most stubborn pupils are now banned by the Constitution, the model of the ogre-teacher has been replaced by the equivalent of the victim-teacher. In short, the social "class" of students, as soon as the school regime softened (perhaps too much), didn't hesitate to take over their superiors, resulting in a series of antics that transformed the former barracks of culture into authentic circus arenas suitable for those who can't bear the sight of wild beasts but nonetheless appreciate their entertainment and fun.
John Beer, a pseudonym for an unknown internet user from Padova, himself a former student with some "educational difficulties," had the "brilliant" idea (especially for his wallet) to collect in multiple volumes (the one I'm about to describe is the progenitor of the series) the "protagonists" in written form of new school adventures, namely the infamous (now not so much) disciplinary notes, which once represented the classic pass to a series of unimaginable punishments - corporal and not - and now have been transformed into collectible items more precious than Bohemian crystals.
The volume is strategically divided into chapters by topics that encompass almost all fields of human "genius" pursued for not equally genial purposes: there are laughable attempts at DIY (Student F. dismantles the desk claiming he needs to restore it) and makeup (Student G. during my lesson - Italian - stands in front of the window with a mirror and tweezers, doing her eyebrows. Despite my calls for attention, she rudely replies "Mind your own business, at home I don't have time to do them since you overload us with homework"), sports not really practiced outdoors (D. performs his favorite sport in class: falls off the chair), rich Lucullan feasts (Unknown individuals keep putting slices of ham in the register. The classroom looks like a butcher shop), strange animalistic imitations (Z. screams in an animalistic manner at the news that Greek literature might be relevant), alternative forms of love (Student P. pours water into a classmate's underwear), original justifications for absence (The student justifies the previous day's absence by saying "I thought it was Sunday"), bodily expressions not in line with school decorum (F. emits foul and pestilential fumes compromising the normal course of the lesson), various and sundry (I don't hear the silence of those who are quiet).
This is the modern (Italian) school, not very in tune with dark aprons and large bows and much more in sync with the reckless chaos of city fairs: in our hearts, we can debate the new educational trend or be glad not to be among those desks breaking our backs (and breaking them in equally coarse and unpleasant buildings). However, for those who wish to savor the authentic spirit of the schoolboy by mixing it with the latest novelties in institutionalized education and training, this volume perfectly responds to their nostalgic desires.
Loading comments slowly
