Full-fledged persecution of Catalan in the Balearic Islands

The decree of languages published on April 19, 2013 that the Balearic government intends to implement in primary and secondary schools on the Balearic Islands can be interpreted as a frontal attack against the teaching of Catalan on this territory. 

Also knows as TIL (which stands for Tractament integral de llengües, loosely translated as Integrated language strategy,) the decree proposes an integrated approach to language teaching in school​​ that would mean that Catalan, Spanish, and English would be the languages spoken in schools. This has forced schools and colleges in the islands to modify their language curriculums, customized to the needs of each community in order to strengthen the least favored language in each case, and also to approve a school board in each school formed by teachers, students, parents, and staff. In fact, in most cases Catalan is the language most in need of support, but the fact of having to increase the percentage of the other two languages ​​reduces the chances of learning Catalan. 

Another factor is the speed with which the Balearic government has ordered its implementation. During the 2013-2014 school year many schools haven’t been able to prepare adequately their resources, their students, or their teachers for this sudden change of policy. 

Three principals in the Maó school district recently opposed the change, so they were suspended without pay. These are but just three cases of schools that have refused to stop using Catalan as the main spoken language. Many others in Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa and Formentera refused to comply, even though the new plan was approved by school boards and imposed by the Spanish Ministry of Education, and have been on strike with the support of the entire school community. The Balearic Islands Education Workers Union (STEI) which enjoys ample support in the area, has declared that “with the law in hand, we can say that these principals have complied with the current regulations and nothing justifies the disproportionate, unfair, and allegedly illegal response by the administration initiated against them.” 

The High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands suspended the Decree as a precautionary measure on the 6th of September, but the next day the government of the islands issued a decree to be applied during the current academic year. Decrees are provided for situations of extraordinary and urgent necessity. This has resulted in a strike where families and teachers all over the Balearic Islands are protesting the new m