Her first words are of gratitude: in a faint voice, from the Giovanni XXIII hospital in Bergamo, where she is hospitalized, the “prof. Chiara Mocchi” – as she herself had signed, in the letter that was released the day after the stabbing – speaks to Famiglia Cristiana. She does so through her lawyer Angelo Lino Murtas, who in recent days has been her link with the world. “My first feeling is truly gratitude. It may seem surprising, especially in a situation in which many, understandably, would feel anger or a desire for revenge. But this feeling comes from my history and the education I received”, confirms the professor to our newspaper. Lucid, disarming words, which are certainly not to be taken for granted. Chiara Mocchi, 57, a French teacher at the Leonardo Da Vinci comprehensive institute in Trescore Balneario, in the province of Bergamo, was stabbed on March 25 in the neck and abdomen by a thirteen-year-old eighth grade student. The teacher is out of danger and has been transferred from the Intensive Care department to the Giovanni XXIII hospital in Bergamo. The tragedy of the moment is in a video that the student himself made, with his cell phone hanging around his neck, and broadcast live on Telegram, on a channel that – it seems – he created and administered himself, from March 20 to the day of the “revenge”, as he called the attack in a sort of “manifesto” of his plan. Now, the young man (who, by his admission, has been diagnosed with ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is in an educational community. Being under the age of 14, he is not attributable but, if deemed socially dangerous, he could be subjected to a security measure. Chiara Mocchi struggles to speak. Every word is an unimaginable pain for her, having also had stab wounds in her neck. However, she wanted with all her heart to dictate the answers of our interview to her lawyer, who transcribed them with care and kindness.
– Where does gratitude come from?
«My family and my grandparents taught me Christian ideals since I was a child. I attended the schools of the Ursuline Sisters of Bergamo, where the legendary Sister Ferrantina made me love French, and where I was able to learn more about the Christian principles that still guide my life today. I have always seen my profession as a French teacher in middle schools, now at Trescore, as a vocation: to educate and accompany children in their growth. For this reason, even in the most difficult moments, I try to look at the light, at what saves and builds, rather than at what destroys. Gratitude, for me, arises precisely from this internal journey and this vision of the world.”
– What – in your opinion – should be done to stay close to today’s kids?
«As a middle school teacher, I think the first thing is to really listen to them. Young people today are exposed to pressures, fragilities and loneliness that often do not emerge to the surface. We need presence, daily attention, someone who looks them in the eye and picks up on the signals, even the smallest ones. They are often distracted by phone screens. Before letting them enter the classroom I have to collect all these cell phones in a bag. Being close to them means offering them authentic guidance, not just rules; it means building trust, making them feel seen and valued. And then you need a network: school, family, services, territory. Nobody can do it alone. When a boy falls, it is the entire community that must be able to reach out.”
– What should be the role of school and family?
«From my privileged teaching position, I note that school and family are the two fundamental pillars in a young person’s life. The family is the first place of love, affective and emotional education. It is there that you learn respect, limits, responsibility towards yourself and others. The principles I was taught by my father and mother. From inside the middle school I see that this institution continues this path, expands it and supports it. It is not just a place of education, but a training ground for life: here you learn coexistence, conflict management and relationships with the world. When school and family dialogue and collaborate, the child perceives a clear direction, educational coherence, and feels protected. However, when they distance themselves or pass off responsibilities to each other, the boy is left alone and more exposed. And the results are unpredictable. For this reason, it is essential that both institutions recognize each other as allies and build the growth path of every young person together.”
