"THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND SUPPORT" says the College Director
In a climate of mutual trust and sincere cooperation, the consultations between the administration of the historic XAVIER COLLEGE and a delegation from the Greek Diaspora, coordinated by the Director of the College, Mr. Lee MacMaster and lawyer Mr. John McClelland on behalf of a group of leading figures from the Greek Diaspora. The director of the College, Mr. MacMaster announced in a letter that following discussions with the Greek Diaspora and due to the measures taken immediately by the Greek delegation, the number of students who registered to participate in the Classical Greek (Ancient Greek) course, from three students who had initially registered, increased to 23 students, a fact that paves the way for the continuation of the teaching of Greek at the college.
A few months ago it became known in the English-speaking press and radio (The AGE, SUN Herald, SPC), that the XAVIER COLLEGE had decided not to continue teaching the Greek language, after a continuous and uninterrupted tradition of 150 years. The reasons for this dramatic decision to the detriment of the learning of ancient Greek culture, according to the College, were the insufficient number of students, the lack of suitable teachers, the competition of the subject in the program with Latin and the restrictions imposed by the government agency Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, according to which in order for a course to be evaluated, there must be more than 10 students. The decision to abolish the course raised awareness among parents and former students of the College, both Greek and non-Greek, who, led by Mr. John McClelland, launched a campaign to overturn the decision. Mr. John McClelland activated reaction mechanisms with petitions and the transfer of the entire issue to the Australian and Greek-speaking press, while at the same time maintaining constant communication with the College administration.
On Wednesday, July 22, Mr. McClelland met with Professor Anastasios Tamis and after a long discussion the method of approach with the College was drawn up. A special small Working Group was organized consisting of the delegation of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria (Mr. Vasilis Papastergiadis OAM, Professor Marina Pirpiris, Dr. Nikos Dallas), from the World Greek Language Day organization and the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (Dr. A. Tamis), the great benefactor of the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Melbourne, Professor James Tatoulis, AO, from the President of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association (Barrister Iosif Tsalanidis) and lawyer Jason Georgallis, representative of the College graduates who were taught Classical Greek up to and including Year 12.
It is noted that since 2001 a Cooperation and Exchange Agreement has been in operation XAVIER COLLEGE with the Arsakeia of Greece which was countersigned by the President of the Arsakeia, Professor G. Babiniotis, with the then Director of the College Mr. Chris McCabeFrom 2001 to 2004, three consecutive series of students of the College of Ancient Greek in Greece were organized and visited Greece, with the result that their number increased from nine students in 2001 to 53 in 2004. This program during these four years was under the responsibility of Professor Tamis, as director of EKEME.
This was followed by careful and rapid preparation on the part of Mr. McClelland and the members of the Working Group, and each member organized and prepared a separate area of responsibility. Mr. Papastergiadis undertook the activation of the arrangement that had been in place since 2001 within the Australian Student Visit Program in Greece, as a cultural and linguistic emergence program. As the Greek Community of Melbourne is already implementing, in collaboration with the Attica Region, a program of educational visits to important historical and cultural sites in Greece, he emphasized that there is the possibility of this program being expanded to include students from Xavier who choose the Ancient Greek Language course. Professor Tatoulis undertook to activate the Department of Classics and the Chair of the Department, Professor Tim Parkin, by offering University curators to teach Ancient Greek at the College while also supporting the granting of scholarships and distinctions. Mr. Tsalanidis undertook to speak with the head of Ancient Greek in the Department of Classics of the University Monash, Dr. Andrew Connor who offered to visit and speak to the students and parents of the College during the lessons about the importance of Classical Greek and the importance of learning Ancient Greek culture. Professor Tamis undertook to resolve problems related to the service VCAA, to talk to her Professors Classical hebrew to properly adjust the bonus scoring-scaling for students of Classical Greek and to support morally and financially the Classical Fund of the College with annual scholarships and awards.
THE HISTORIC MEETING
The Director of the College Mr. Lee MacMaster willingly agreed to meet with the members of the Working Group at 12.00 noon on Thursday 30 July in the College conference room. The College was attended by: Mr. Lee MacMaster, Principal, Mrs.. Monique Dalli, Director of Learning and Growth, and Fr Chris Middleton, Rector and Chancellor of college. With particular emphasis, Ms. Monique Dalli on the importance of the Greek language, but referred to the small number of candidates for the course in 2027, the limitations of the program, especially because it coincides with the teaching of Latin. The Chancellor of the College Fr Chris Middleton He referred to his reservations about avoiding competition between Greek and Latin, emphasizing that "Latin is closer to the Jesuit tradition," but suggested that it could be offered outside of the regular school schedule.
On behalf of the Working Group, Messrs. Vasilis Papastergiadis and Nikos Dalaas attended and spoke (Mr. Pirpiris was abroad). Mr. Papastergiadis strongly supported the importance of the teaching of Ancient Greek, as the language of Western civilization, for the Greek Diaspora, emphasizing that the course adds special prestige to the College and its history, and that the Greek Community, as a body representing Hellenism in Victoria, in close collaboration with the Greek Government, is in a position to activate the existing Cultural and Linguistic Emergence Program and begin in September of each year to visit Greece, its museums and ancient sites as guests of the Greek Government, paying only the cost of their tickets. Mr. Tsalanidis referred to the historical role of teaching Greek at the College, revealed his conversations with Monash academics, who showed willingness to cooperate with the XAVIER COLLEGE, presenting lectures and seminars to the students of the College, in order to increase the number of students. Professor Mr. Tatoulis developed the importance of the course, it was reported that the number of students of Ancient Greek in the beginner classes of the Department of Classics of the University of Melbourne exceeded 60, while the number of students at Monash University is almost the same, he reaffirmed his commitment to bring the Department of Classics closer to the College, to organize lectures and to second curators and assistant lecturers to XAVIER COLLEGE for the next three years.
Attorney Jason Georgallis, representing the XAVIER COLLEGE graduates who were taught Classical Greek, then emphasized that the value of Classical Greek extends far beyond simply learning a language. He noted that the course enhances students’ understanding of English grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure, while also cultivating critical thinking, analytical reasoning and an appreciation of the intellectual foundations of Western civilization.
The coordinator of the entire effort, Mr. John McClelland introduced the members of the Working Group during the meeting and referred to the Proposal of Commitments from the Greek diaspora, which had already been submitted for consultation to the Director of the College since 1η August 2026.
This was followed by the speech of Professor A. M. Tamis, who emphasized that the Jesuit tradition supported both ancient languages, Greek and Latin, that we cannot see these two languages as competing, but rather as complementary and in partnership, that Greek, like Latin, contributes to the formation of human character and that Greek remains the only living language of Western civilization, which we must take care of by giving the correct interpretation not to the numbers but to the importance of a lesson.
On August 5, the Director of the College, Mr. Lee MacMaster addressed a letter to all parents and students of the Second Gymnasium and referred with enthusiasm and emotion to the importance of the Greek Language for human culture and the formation of character, emphasized the benefits that will arise for the College and the students after all that was proposed for implementation by the Greek community of Melbourne and invited them to declare that they will attend the Ancient Greek course in 2027. On August 12, the students of the College declared the courses they would take for the new school year, 2027. For the Classical Greek course, 23 students have now signed up, compared to the three who were there until then. On August 15, the Director of the College Lee MacMaster sent a letter to Mr. John McClelland and the members of the Working Group, with whom he thanked them for the unwavering support they offered to the College and to the dozens of students of the College who wish to enroll in the course in the 2027 school year (from 23 the number continues to increase, exceeding 30 prospective students).
The President of the Community, Mr. Papastergiadis, in his statements, expressed his sincere satisfaction for this very important result, which was orchestrated and completed in just two weeks. "I thank, on behalf of the Working Group, the director of XAVIER COLLEGE, K. Lee MacMaster and his associates for the consistency, honesty and reliability of their decision. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all those who took the lead, especially to the parents and students who returned with enthusiasm to the desks of Ancient Greek, to the tireless parent Mr. John McClelland, who was the soul of the struggle and brought the issue to the columns of major newspapers, as well as to the members of our Group, each one individually, for their contribution and willingness. I call on the Greek Diaspora to join and actively contribute to the effort for the teaching of the Greek language, Ancient and Modern, in all institutions of learning, diaspora, independent and state, at all levels of education,” said Mr. Papastergiadis.
The important preparatory work carried out by Mr. Miltiadis Paikopoulos, with the creation of the network, should also be recognized. AGON (Ancient greek Outreach Network), which played a decisive role in bringing together all the bodies and stakeholders active in the field of Ancient Greek in Victoria and beyond. This initiative contributed to the creation of a significant dynamic, as a result of which serious prospects are now emerging for the revitalizing and strengthening the lesson in the future.
