First Major Interview: Orizzonte Scuola

Elio Mondello Anza was interviewed by journalist and educator Francesco Bunetto for Orizzonte Scuola — Italy's leading online education portal, read by hundreds of thousands of teachers, school administrators, and education professionals across the country.

The interview, part of the “I Protagonisti” series, explored practical strategies for managing conflict in the classroom, building structured yet welcoming learning environments, and the differences between the Italian and Norwegian approaches to student wellbeing and behavioral challenges.

Key topics included:

• First practical intervention when a student enters oppositional mode — guided choice, low voice, short timeframes
• Building classroom climate in multicultural contexts — “first the relationship, then the rule”
• Italy vs. Norway in managing school difficulties — psychological safety vs. authentic connection
• Music and storytelling as educational tools — how the song “Vita/Life” and the book “Sei Paesi, Una Storia” are used in real classrooms
• Making students feel at home — what it means in practice after living in 6 countries

Francesco Bunetto — himself a musician, educator, and school administrator — conducted the interview with depth and warmth, creating space for both practical strategies and personal storytelling.

“First the relationship, then the rule. If a student doesn't feel safe, no strategy in the world will work.”

This is the first major media interview for the book and marks an important milestone in the outreach campaign. The article and video are now live on Orizzonte Scuola's website and YouTube channel.