Like the public versus private debate, whether or not to attend a bicultural school is another thing to think about when deciding on an education.
A bicultural education can reaffirm, support and nurture the linguistic, cultural and religious identity of a student. At a Greek school, such as St Johns College, Alphington Grammar and Oakleigh Grammar in Melbourne, St Andrew’s Grammar in Perth, St George Orthodox College in Adelaide, and All Saints Grammar in Sydney, you learn the three Rs and your Greek identity will be encouraged. But is this necessarily a good thing?
In 1984, Anna Frazelas was one of 27 students enrolled at St George College in the first year of the school’s existence. The parents of all 27 students were confident that their children were about to be offered more than an education.
“At the time I was enrolled, I lived on the same street as the St George church: I was baptised there and attended the church regularly. My parents liked the idea of a school that incorporated their heritage and religion,” says Anna, adding, “It was the first of its kind in South Australia, it was an opportunity to embrace all of this and support the Greek South Australian community.”
The school community and safe environment offered to every student is accentuated in a bicultural school, as the Greek Orthodox community also protects and nurtures the student as well.
Anna was one of my classmates when I first went to St George as a year 2 student, right up until I graduated from primary school in year 7. Anna is today, one of my best friends. And it doesn’t matter where and when I see her, my heart lights up for the girl I have know for nearly 30 years. That’s another thing that makes this education unique – the ocmmunity feel and the sense of belonging.
That sense of belonging fosters more than lifelong friendships but instils a certain kind of confidence in the student allowing them to grow and access more than an education. Anna says the best thing about having a bicultural education is the “sense of home and warmth associated with growing up with the students at a school that offered more than just an education”.
Having the Greek language accessible at school is a definite advantage felt by those who choose a bicultural education. One of the reasons Arianne Lambrineas chose to attend Alphington Grammar, was to be able to study Modern Greek in high school without having to attend extra classes on the weekend.
“I never dreaded attending the classes,” explains Arianne of the benefit of learning Modern Greek at school. “It seemed to be more enjoyable and convenient when incorporated with my normal school routine.”
The bicultural education promotes all aspects of Greek identity, and it reinforces traditions and cultural events. Anna, John and Arianne all remember attending marches for Greek Independence Day and OXI day, learning traditional Greek dances, going on Greek excursions to museums and galleries, performing at Greek events, and watching Greek movies.
Anna remembers “painting eggs and making koulourakia for Easter”.
But at the same time, this education offers the opportunity to embrace in debating, school camps, read-a-thons, public speaking and sports days. But the only difference being, at St George College the sports teams are Athens, Olympia, Sparta and Pella.
A bicultural education puts you in good stead for the future. It’s a given that every student in Australia will be touched by a culturally rich education. And it’s important to know that Greek Orthodox schools aren’t only accessible to people of Greek heritage, but are open to all. If you look at the current enrolment of all bicultural schools, you will see a trend in cross-cultural education and the diversity of all students of all cultural backgrounds.
This is important for schools to move forward, but also provide a well-rounded and culturally rich experience that is unique to education in Australia.