Documentary: The "Other" Kids
At first glance, it's an unlikely venue for a radical social experiment. Šarišské Michaľany is a quaint Slovak village, nestled into the rolling hills in the country's northeast. One road runs through the enclave of brightly coloured homes. There's not a single traffic light. Sheep graze in the frontyard of the local church. This is home to just under 3,000...
At first glance, it's an unlikely venue for a radical social experiment. Šarišské Michaľany is a quaint Slovak village, nestled into the rolling hills in the country's northeast. One road runs through the enclave of brightly coloured homes. There's not a single traffic light. Sheep graze in the frontyard of the local church. This is home to just under 3,000 people.
The village has one school, for students in grades 1 through 9. And it's this school the world is watching.
Until recently, and like most others in the country, the school in Šarišské Michaľany had strictly segregated classrooms. White students made up all academically advanced classes. The remedial classes were exclusively for the darker skinned Roma - or Gypsy - students.
But last year, a federal court ruled that the segregation here violated Slovakia's anti-discrimination laws. It was a landmark ruling, hailed by human rights activists across Europe.
Now, for the first time in the country's history, a school is being forced to integrate Roma and non-Roma students.
Freelance journalist Tanya Springer went to Šarišské Michaľany to see the experiment in action. Her documentary is called "The 'Other' Kids".
Here is Tanya's photo essay about the Roma:
The village has one school, for students in grades 1 through 9. And it's this school the world is watching.
Until recently, and like most others in the country, the school in Šarišské Michaľany had strictly segregated classrooms. White students made up all academically advanced classes. The remedial classes were exclusively for the darker skinned Roma - or Gypsy - students.
But last year, a federal court ruled that the segregation here violated Slovakia's anti-discrimination laws. It was a landmark ruling, hailed by human rights activists across Europe.
Now, for the first time in the country's history, a school is being forced to integrate Roma and non-Roma students.
Freelance journalist Tanya Springer went to Šarišské Michaľany to see the experiment in action. Her documentary is called "The 'Other' Kids".
Here is Tanya's photo essay about the Roma: