“We urge you to refrain from any pressuring of children and parents, educators and teachers, to not require children or teachers to wear a protective mask in school or on the school grounds (since, as mentioned beforehand, there is no legal basis for this), and also to not force them to get tested or vaccinated against covid-19 (since there is no legal basis for this either); otherwise we will be forced to take action and protect our health and the health of our children and all other adults who participate in any way in the education system, in the competent court,” reads an e-mail, sent by the Civil Initiative of Slovenian Lawyers to Slovenian principals. “I am appalled by your letter, which is irresponsible, cowardly and probably also a petty political attempt to put pressure on principals,” one of the principals replied.
Not only is the Civil Initiative of Slovenian Lawyers (Civilna iniciativa slovenskih pravnikov – hereinafter referred to as CISP) exerting inadmissible pressure on principles and is, in fact, directly threatening them with the court; it is also encouraging them to oppose the anti-corona legislative measures, such as the wearing of masks in schools. No, this is not a déjà vu, even though we have heard all of this before – and it did not end well for the schoolchildren last fall, as they had to leave school and continue with online learning from home due to the rapid increase in infections. But perhaps this year, too, this is the goal of the various unions, civil initiatives, and other helpers of the left-wing opposition, which makes sure to use every possible excuse to get mad at the “incompetent” government, which is always to blame for everything in the end. There is indeed something rotten in our country, and no constructivism, which would have especially been needed during the epidemic. There is only destruction, and with a single miserable, pathetic intention to overthrow the current government, so that the transitional left can return to the position of power. The virus is nothing serious, as long as it is not Janez Janša. Well, if they are accusing the government of not giving any instructions to schools before the beginning of the school year, the same cannot be said for CISP – but we also know where such instructions will lead.
In an e-mail, the Civil Initiative of Slovenian Lawyers urged the principals to “read our letter with all seriousness and responsibility, in which we pointed out many inconsistencies with many laws and the CONSTITUTION. Based on all that we have written, we insist that the principals must respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms arising from the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as the rights of teachers as patients, arising from the Patients’ Rights Act, and all relevant international treaties.” They also wrote that the principals must adhere to the legal framework of competencies and tasks provided for in the Institutes Act and the Organisation and Financing of Education Act, and that in view of all of the above, it is expected that the practice of forcing all, including healthy employees, to undergo mandatory SARS-CoV-2 testing, and the subsequent conditioning of employment with completed testing or threats of termination of employment will end immediately. “We urge you to refrain from any pressuring of children and parents, educators and teachers, to not require children or teachers to wear a protective mask in school or on the school grounds (since, as mentioned beforehand, there is no legal basis for this), and also to not force them to get tested or vaccinated against covid-19 (since there is no legal basis for this either); otherwise we will be forced to take action and protect our health and the health of our children and all other adults who participate in any way in the education system, in the competent court,” they wrote and also added kind regards.
Adherence to the CISP recommendations would further worsen the epidemiological picture and make them partially responsible for the increased number of patients and deaths
The mail was sent to us by the principals of one of Ljubljana’s grammar schools, who also responded to the Civil Initiative of Slovenian Lawyers with the following e-mail: “I am appalled by your letter, which is irresponsible, cowardly and probably also a petty political attempt to put pressure on principal,” he wrote, explaining that the letter was irresponsible because it does not try to solve the covid-19 problems. “Moreover, following your recommendations would worsen the epidemiological situation, and you would become partially responsible for the increased number of sick and dead. You are cowardly because you are hiding (and thus hiding from your personal responsibility) by writing from an anonymous e-mail address,” he pointed out. He also informed them that he would justifiably expect at least the signature of a coordinator from a “quasi-legal initiative.” “You are being extremely politically petty by announcing your political opposition to the government and its actions illegal and unconstitutional. And if you are perhaps interested in my opinion – I am in favour of vaccination of all employees, except those who cannot get vaccinated due to health concerns. And the latter need to frequently get tested. Wearing masks cannot be a question at all,” he pointed out, adding that he completely rejects their letter, recommendations, and covert threats. Unlike CISP, the principal signed his e-mail – we decided to keep his name in the editorial office.
Sara Bertoncelj
