MP Says Ancient Greek Irrelevant

A member of the Greek Parliament from the marginalized Democratic Left (DIMAR), Maria Repousi, said Ancient Greek has no relevance any more in schools and should not be mandatory, setting off a furor from critics questioning her patriotism.
Repousi was already under fire for saying that religion should not be taught in schools either, in a country where 97 percent of people claim they are Greek Orthodox and there is a close relationship between the Church and State.
Repousi stated that Ancient Greek should not be compulsory and the texts studied by pupils should be translated into Modern Greek since few people really speak Ancient Greek, which is markedly different from the way people talk today.
Repousi said this would make Ancient Greek, currently compulsory up to senior high school, more accessible to students. Her comments provoked the anger of Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki. “Next she will tell us that we have to knock down the Acropolis so we can have a better view of Faliro,” he said.
Repousi couldn’t even get the backing of her colleagues in DIMAR. “I learned more because I was taught Ancient Greek,” said Spyros Likoudis, although he said interest is waning from students, much like Latin in American schools that used be taught. MP Katerina Markou said suggestion by Repousi was a stunt to draw attention to herself since no one notices DIMAR anymore.