Schoolchildren are now taught in Katherevousa, a once-obscure mixture of ancient and modern Greek, which many observers consider a linguistic throwback designed "to keep information and education away from the masses," as one anti-junta activist said.

In addition, one observer stated, the schools and universities are filled with uniformed militiamen and with plain-clothes "stool-pigeons" to insure that students and professors do not take exception to official views.

Playing Politics

Thus, many observers feel, Sioris's visit is not connected so much with impending educational reform as with some political ambitions of the regime: "to impress the Greek-American community and also to make some capital at home," as one activist said.

In addition, observers suggested two other reasons for the visit: to attract skilled Greek nationals in the U. S. to migrate back to Greece and fill positions that the regime itself has emptied, and to intimidate other Greek nationals who would otherwise be more vocally opposed to the junta if they did not have family or friends in Greece.