Μαζί μπορούμε. Together, we can.
A community rallied, a school listened, and a 148-year-old Greek language tradition has been given a fresh chance. It seems an especially appropriate phrase for this article on Still Speaking Greek. While SSG is mainly about Modern Greek, over the past few weeks, a debate about Ancient Greek at Xavier College in Melbourne caught my attention because it shows what can happen when schools and communities listen to each other.
The situation
Xavier College has taught Ancient Greek for almost 150 years, since 1878. Earlier this year, the school announced it was suspending the subject after enrolments fell only a handful of students. The Greek Herald reported in July that a petition had begun calling for the program to continue, while the College said it had explored alternatives, including combining year levels, but could not responsibly commit to a four-year program on such low enrolments. Some years had no enrolments at all.
Language programs cannot operate on enthusiasm alone. It’s an issue that could affect several schools. My own school in Sydney offers Ancient Greek, and we have low student numbers too. Teachers, timetables, classrooms and curriculum structures all have to be considered.
And we need to be willing to think differently about how we support it.
A community spoke up. The school listened.
Those supporting Ancient Greek made their case. Xavier explained the difficulties it faced. Discussions are continuing.
Neos Kosmos later reported growing support from parents, alumni, academics, members of the Greek community and the wider public. Xavier has now gone back to families with a new expression of interest for students considering Ancient Greek in Year 9 in 2027. Families have been given until mid-August to indicate their interest.
For anyone interested in community languages, this is an encouraging example of what genuine community engagement and constructive advocacy can look like.
At the time of publication, expressions of interest were still open. I will write another article when we know the outcome. Whatever that outcome, we’ve opened lines of communication, and that’s a win for the language, the school, the students and the community.
Going one step further
One thing I kept thinking while reading about this debate was: how do we make choosing a difficult, small-enrolment language feel like an opportunity rather than a sacrifice?
What if students who commit themselves to Ancient Greek were offered something special in return such as:
-A scholarship: an Ancient Greek scholarship supported by schools, alumni, Greek Australian organisations or donors to cover the cost of books, travel to Greece or access to university cultural programs.
-A trip to Greece: a cultural immersion tour to Greece could even combine Modern and Ancient Greek students together!
-A youth cultural leadership program: an opportunity to interact with Greek community leaders who value their achievements.
Interestingly, Xavier seems is thinking along these same lines. Their latest proposal includes the opportunity for Ancient Greek students to participate in a funded trip to Greece.
I think it’s a terrific idea. So why stop there? The same thinking could apply to Modern Greek too. Young people keep hearing the message that learning languages is valuable. So show us that our decision has indeed been valuable.
Find champions before reaching a crisis point
Once student numbers become very small, it can be difficult for a school to keep a subject going, even with community support. Support for Greek needs to begin much earlier, before enrolments reach the bottom.
Schools, teachers, parents, community groups, universities and former students can all help. Trips, cultural events, history, food, faith, literature and links with the wider Greek community can all help students see the many values in language learning and build their network.
Students who choose a niche and more challenging subject deserve some recognition for taking it on. Whether they’re learning the Greek spoken today or studying the language of the ancient world, they’re choosing to keep a language and culture alive.
For now, let’s celebrate our win. People cared enough to speak up, the school cared enough to actively listen, and the conversation is continuing and it may even lead to other schools and groups discussing this important issue too.
That’s how positive change takes hold - so Μαζί μπορούμε keep Still Speaking Greek.
Photo credit: Taken by me at the Acropolis January 2026.
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