Introduzione (Famiglie sotto esame)

The volume presents the results of a research, financed by the Italian Ministry of Labour and realised in three German regions - Baviera, Baden Württembreg, Renania Palatinato – in order to explain the reasons of the unsuccessful educational careers of the children of Italian migrants. Through 60 in depth interviews to Italian parents and a series of focus group with teachers, professionals, experts, heads of associations and students with a migratory background it was possible to analyse a wide set of arguments such as the history of the family and of the migration; the living conditions of the Italian communities (working and housing conditions, the relationship with the German society and the German institutions, the functioning of the Italian community…); the links with Italy and the Italian institutions; the linguistic behaviours of the Italian families, the attitudes toward (German and Italian) citizenship and, above all, the relationship with the German educational system and the strategies implemented in order to sustain the school careers of Italian children.