Al mèster” SCHENETTI
At the mèster he never improvised the lessons but every day at home he found time to prepare the lessons by drawing up a schedule of activities to be carried out in class the following day, the beginning of which was always marked by prayer. Of his class, always large with no less than 30 or 40 students, I have, in addition to the blisters on my butt from the spankings he received, a less traumatic and rather happy memory for the enthusiastic and human way in which he explained the story, obviously respecting the canons imparted by the ministerial programs that still had to pay homage to the regime, often to the detriment of the truth. Another moment that aroused the unconditional attention of us students was listening to the most important news published daily in the newspaper; this attention even resulted in laughter when for Shrove Thursday he tried his hand at reading Sandrone's rant in dialect. Over time I often happened to meet some of his old students who, although not forgetting the punishments they had suffered, always thanked him for the education they received. I remember that among the mèster's colleagues there were some who became "characters" in the field of education. I remember some emerging with certain characteristic attitudes: Gilioli, eternally disorderly grumpy but very good designer; Fontana a man, no longer young but peaceful wrapped in a black cape with the inevitable cigar in his mouth; Tranchid tireless profaner of the sonority of our language with the discordant notes of his guttural pronunciation; However, there was also no shortage of representatives of the fairer sex such as teacher Zanni, eternally prey to reckless nervous breakdowns; the more meek Taccini, meticulous secretary of the school, the romantic Biasin, my teacher, with her braided hair gathered on her head like a Manzonian peasant girl who usually begins lessons with the classic sung prayer: "...if I go if I stay if I think immense God I see you ..." Alongside these "treasure chests of knowledge" the expert in "love of wine" Spezzani did not disfigure: the omnipresent ravenous former carabiniere janitor whose baritone tone of voice resounded eerily along the corridors of the school. At the time there was no after-school program and, at the request of several parents, the mèster also activated private lesson courses which he held at home in Braida. The mèster was the group leader of the teachers, and among other things he had also taken on the responsibility of looking after the School Board which was the body responsible for the free distribution of books, notebooks and shoes to the most indigent pupils; there was so much esteem and gratitude shown to him since he went in person to beg for funds to add to the meager municipal subsidies. Huge moment of gratitude when he was called to be part of the Provincial Examination Commission for the qualification of teaching candidates. In recognition of his 40 uninterrupted years of profession, in 1956 the then President of the Republic Giovanni Gronchi awarded him the gold medal. Finally, having reached 45 years of active service, celebrated by colleagues and acquaintances, the "master Schenetti" retired with a regular pension.
1895/1969
Extract from "Il Maestro Schenetti" by Gabriele Schenetti