Lula: “We’re not going to turn schools into prisons”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Tuesday (Apr. 18) that the internet is rife with violent speech, adding that society and families should be responsible for the upbringing and education of children and adolescents. In his view, online platforms must be held accountable for the content they help disseminate.
“I shouldn’t be able to preach hatred online, advertise guns, or teach kids to shoot—and that’s what we see every single day. The truth is that a six- or nine-year-old child will bring to school a reflection of what he hears at home,” the president said, pointing out that Brazil’s National Education Plan stipulates that the community must take responsibility for what happens in schools.
In his view, there has been a behavioral change in society. “When an eight-year-old thinks a gun is the answer, have they seen it in the Bible? No. In a textbook? No. They heard it from their parents at home, and that’s why we need to take into account that without participation from their the parents, we can’t fix education in schools,” he argued.
At the Planalto presidential palace, Lula called a meeting with the heads of the Judiciary and Legislative branches, cabinet ministers, governors and their representatives, and lawmakers to discuss ways to promote peace in educational institutions and fight hate speech and extremism.
Taking action
The government also unveiled a program aimed at protecting the school environment. Costs add up to BRL 3.115 billion for the installation of psychological centers, in addition to infrastructure, equipment, and training.
Erecting walls and having metal detectors installed is not the way to go, Lula argued. “We’re not going to turn schools into maximum-security prisons. That’s not the solution. Plus, we don’t have money for that. And it’s not politically correct. It’s not humanly or socially correct,” he declared.
Education Minister Camilo Santana also proposed that state and city governments should form committees with local communities to devise strategies to keep schools safe. “This is the time to bring everyone together, regardless of political, partisan, or ideological issues. What’s at stake here is the lives of children and young people in this country,” he stated.
