Sir,
It is with great surprise that FIEC was informed of the recent decision of the Greek Ministry of education to abolish the teaching of Latin in Secondary Education (Lyceum) and to replace it with Sociology.
The International Federation of Associations of Classical Studies (FIEC) is the umbrella organization that represents all associations of Classical Studies around the world. We feel especially concerned by your recent decision because Greece, among all countries in the world, holds a unique position in supporting the study of the ancient Graeco-Roman world. Access to Ancient Greek and to Latin are the indispensable key for understanding this civilization.
We do not dispute the importance of sociology in a school curriculum. The study of Latin, however, still holds a central position in higher education: it is the basis for accessing numerous European languages and underlies terminology in the natural sciences, engineering and law.
We very much hope that the Greek Ministry of Education will be sensitive to the call we are making in the name of numerous associations and colleagues around the world who depend on the effort of each government to pursue the teaching of Latin and Ancient Greek.
Sincerely yours,