The Zagreb based [Serb cultural] society "Prosveta" has a somewhat softer attitude, but the educators from the Croatian Danube valley hardly cooperate with it. Their "education program" is very different from "Prosveta's" proposal, and they especially dislike that the "Prosveta's" proposal is a copy of the education program for the Italian minority.
In their demands they contradict themselves by claiming that Serb language differs from Croatian, in order to secure significant position for the teaching of Serb language in the curriculum, but because of the "similarity" between the two languages [only seven words in the original version of this article, written in Croatian, need to be changed to "translate" this article to Serb language], they are trying to reduce the number of Croatian language classes which is compulsory for all other ethnic minorities in Croatia, saying that the teaching of Croatian language is not necessary for Serb children because the two languages are almost identical. Among other, the negotiators refuse to teach children in their schools (according to the law, schools of ethnic minorities) Croatian language starting in the first grade, because, as they say, it would be too hard for their children to master both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets at the same time. We wonder if in Germany they would dare refuse to teach children German language?
The attitude of the Serb negotiators is based on wrong premises. They forget that the Cyrillic alphabet is becoming obsolete. Croats and other non-Serbs do not learn the Cyrillic alphabet in primary nor high schools, and the fact that some of them still know that alphabet cannot be a basis for the future education system in Croatia. Soon, even those who can read the Cyrillic alphabet may refuse to accept any document written in Cyrillic, because the official alphabet in our country in the Latin alphabet; if someone wants to be really spiteful, he may demand an official translator for the official negotiations with the Serb side. This will certainly happen if Serbs continue to provoke and disrespect Croatian laws about the education of ethnic minorities.
The fact that older generations who were educated in Yugoslavia were forced to learn Serb language and Serb alphabet does not oblige anyone to use that language and alphabet. Although in principle it is good to know different alphabets, the Cyrillic alphabet included, if someone provokes us we can easily forget it. But, if the Serbs keep trying to isolate their children in the state in which they live by failing to teach them the official language of that state, that will be their fault; however, fortunately for the Serb children, Croat authorities are forced by law to prevent that.
Translated on 5/28/97