From: macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis)
Subject: Re: Independent Slavo-Macedonia
Organization: OSF Research Institute
	<1992Sep11.004601.11325@neptune.inf.ethz.ch>
Date: 11 Sep 92 11:37:18

In article <1992Sep11.004601.11325@neptune.inf.ethz.ch> santas@inf.ethz.ch (Philip Santas) writes:

   ...On the other hand, regionalism is not the only way of preserving
   or presenting cultural richness. Culture is not a local property.

Agreed that regionalism is not the only way of preserving cultural
richness, and that culture is not a local property (as witness the
example of the Pontian club in Boston I gave).  However, when there
_is_ a strong local cultural tradition, it seems reasonable to
encourage it in that place.  For instance, Cretan schools might read
more Cretan authors, from Kornaros to Prevelakis to Kazantzakis.  They
might study Venetian castle-building (there are some good local
examples...).

   ...But why should the state provide schools for teaching vlach or
   albanian or whatever in Greece? Does the american state does this
   for foreigners?

Actually, in the US, education is highly decentralized: the "american
state" (the Federal government) does not provide education at all
(except on Indian reservations, etc.).  States set general policy, and
individual cities and towns operate the schools.  Bilingual education
is in fact offered by many school systems, and is required by some
states under certain circumstances.

On Indian reservations, by the way, it used to be the case that
speaking the local language was forbidden.  Now the local language is
taught along with English, in my opinion a more humane and civilized
approach.

   Individuals of these cases should care by themselves for teaching
   to their offsprings the languages they find appropriate. Or they
   can organise a club and teach to their children thier language,
   without bothering the rest.

I find it more enriching to encourage the preservation of local culture.

   In any case, teaching languages which are spoken just by a small
   group of people during their private meetings, is something
   expensive, it has minor interest for the rest of the population,
   and is out of the scope of a central government.

You could say the same of many other areas of cultural life: why
should the schools teach classical music (rather than just patriotic
folk songs) or Renaissance painting (rather than just patriotic
Byzantine painting), etc.?

   >As for the content of the issue, I agree that much is unknown about
   >the origin of the Rumanians and the Vlachs.

   Historically this is possible. But I do not see what has this got
   to do with the organisation and the political decisions of the greek
   state concerning teaching or promoting the vlach language. 

I agree with you 100%.

   Furthermore people tend to make decisions based on known facts
   and not on speculations.

That's what I'd like to think.  Unfortunately, the evidence is
otherwise....

   Notice also that for years ancient greek was not tought to
   high school students, although it's origin is well known...

Ancient Greek is certainly enriching.  Still, I wouldn't want to go to
extremes (as in the old days).  For that matter, there are other
useful languages to learn for our history and relations with other
countries.  To speak just of Crete, all archives up to 1897 are
written in Ottoman Turkish.  We have several such documents in my
family.  I have taught myself enough Ottoman to be able to painfully
decipher about 50% of what they say....  Our government and industry
needs people who speak European and other languages of the region.
English is fine as far as it goes, but is not universal....

	-s