Research Paper/ Parent connection Project
There are many factors that traditionally prevent parents from attending school functions, particularly immigrant parents, which lead most teachers to assume they are not interested in their child’s education (Ariza, 2000). On the contrary, disinterest may not be the reason for such absenteeism, but cultural differences and the lack of knowledge of the navigation and processes of our school system may be the source. Ariza’s article stated that Delgado-Gaitan (1991) found that when immigrant parents do not participate in school activities, U.S. teachers assume, often with disdain, that parents are uninterested (Ariza, 2002). According to Ariza, among the reasons for immigrant parents for not participating are lack of language, lack of knowledge of school system or expectations, lack of transportation, fear to meet with authorities due to immigration status, and lack of knowledge of parental rights in their child’s education (Ariza, 2002). Now, considering such factors which may prevent parental participation in school functions; I researched Greek culture and language to find the most appropriate school activity to promote parental involvement.
The most important aspects of Greek culture are religion, family, and heritage pride.
According to Christos, (Cultural interview) religious activities and holidays are the most observed and practice in his country; where “98% of their population is Greek Orthodox” Greece
- Greek Language, Culture, Customs and Doing Business Etiquette. (n.d.). Professional
Translation Services | Interpreters | Intercultural Communication & Training . Retrieved
September 24, 2011, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/greececountry-profile.html
It is important to mention that the Greek language survived over 400 years of Turkish invasion, credited to the tutoring of religious members in charge to pass the country’s history and language to the younger generations (Christos, 2011). Then, it is very clear to see the

enormous influence Orthodox religion has in the Greek culture. According to Christos, religious holidays such as Easter, surpass Independence Day in importance.
Along with religion, family is a major institution in the Greek culture. According to
Christos, Greeks value and respect the family, to the point that family members can rely on each other, particularly the youngest members of the family. But the family is more than that in the
Greek culture as stated in Kwintessential,
“the family is the basis of the social structure, offer both financial and emotional support to its members, the extended family is expected to help relatives in times of need, family relationships carry over into business, and the wrong doing of one family member brings dishonor to the entire family. Greece - Greek Language, Culture,
Customs and Doing Business Etiquette. (n.d.). Professional Translation Services | Interpreters |
Intercultural Communication & Training . Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/greece-country-profile.html
Next, heritage pride is another strong aspect of the Greek culture. During the cultural interview, Christos stated that Greece was number one in the world at consuming vegetables, and made sure to mentioned that Greece was well known for its hospitality, showing pride when he provided me with the information. It is very clear that Greeks are very proud of their heritage because their heritage is not only theirs it is the world’s heritage. The Greek culture has enriched the world with arts, architecture, astronomy, philosophy, politics, warfare, history, and literature.
As stated in Kwintessential, “A recent study found that Greeks’ pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of every other European nation,” Greece - Greek Language, Culture,
Customs and Doing Business Etiquette. (n.d.). Professional Translation Services | Interpreters |
Intercultural Communication & Training . Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/greece-country-profile.html

The schooling practices in Greece are reflected in their population, where 96% of their population is educated.
The World FactBook. (2011, September 27). Central Intelligence
Agency . Retrieved September 29, 2011, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworld-factbook/geos/gr.html
. According to Christos, both boys and girls are expected to go to school and pursue higher education, as stated in Angloinfo, “In Greece, all children from 6 to 15 years old must attend school,” Education & schooling in Greece. (n.d.). Angloinfo . Retrieved
September 24, 2011, from greece.angloinfo.com/countries/greece/schooling.asp.
Children attend six years of primary school (Dimotiko) starting at age 6, followed by secondary education which is divided into two sections: three years of gymnasio (middle school) for children ages 12 to 15 and three years of the lykeio (high school), most students complete the last three years although it is not required. Education & schooling in Greece. (n.d.). Angloinfo . Retrieved September 24,
2011, from greece.angloinfo.com/countries/greece/schooling.asp.
According to Christos, tutoring practices are extremely common in Greece, particularly for learning other languages. According to Angloinfo, many students seek private tutoring to complement school education in preparation for university exams, and to learn a foreign language.
Education & schooling in Greece.
(n.d.).
Angloinfo. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from greece.angloinfo.com/countries/greece/schooling.asp.
Consequently, both education and educators are highly valued by parents. Both boys and girls are expected by their parents to go to school, complete the lykeio, take the university examination and pursue higher education. According to Christos, becoming a college professor is considered a prestigious job along with engineering and medical doctors. He added that as growing up, although there were no resources at home to support education, his parents made sure he attended to school every day (Christos, 2011). In addition, Christos discussed about the involvement of the extended family in childrearing which included children’s education.

According to Christos, even at college student age, extended family such as uncles and grandparents would provide economic support to the youngsters for leisure activities and amenities if they do not hold a job.
There a large, well established Greek communities in the United States; in Pinellas
County, Florida, Greeks have established in the city of Tarpon Springs. The Greeks in this area have managed to turn it into a small Greece which has helped the city’s economic growth due to the increment of tourism. Most of the Greeks living in Tarpon Springs are second and third generations, since they started immigrating in the late 1960’s. These Greeks in America, had adapted well to the new culture without forgetting their language, religion, traditions, and culture, their most valuable treasures. As stated by Stavros in The Hellenic Voice , it is not easy to grow up in America in a Greek family, “Growing up in a Greek family means that your father makes unreasonable requests. He's always trying to make you speak Greek, go to church, fast during Lent, wear a foustanella (Greek kilt), learn Greek dances, go to Greek school, and worst of all, kisses you on both cheeks in front of friends. At the age of fifteen, Greekness is a heavy burden.”
My Greek Odyssey: Growing Up Greek in America. (2009, January 24). My Greek
Odyssey . Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://greekodyssey.typepad.com/my_greek_odyssey/2009/01/growing-up-greek-inamerica.html
. The story of this man described the Greek family’s effort to maintain their culture and their heritage and most importantly, it described how to transmit them to their children.
The findings in my research has added to what I had concluded after the interview with
Christos; they value their Greek Orthodox religion and they value family, as well as education and their heritage. Their life revolves in the church and their religious practices, develops in their families and extended families interactions and relationships, grows through education and

family support and motivation, and their pride on their heritage join them together into a strong community. Then I come to the realization that only language would be a barrier preventing me to support my students education, and their family’ collaboration to their success. I think that the best approach to motivate Greek families to participate in school activities, would be to hold a cultural fair. As suggested by Ariza, to guarantee the success of the cultural fair, I would need to involve the community, different ethnic groups, the media, church, and businesses (Ariza, 2000).
I feel that their pride in their heritage would be the best motivation for Greek families’ participation.
References
A0riza, E. N. (2000). Actions speak louder than words- or do they? Debunking the myth of apathetic immigrant parents in education. Contemporary Education , 71, 36-38.
Ariza, E. N. (2002). Cultural considerations: immigrant parent involvement. Kappa Delta Pi
Record , 38, 134-137.