controversy. Yes, it is a week late but we see that delay as a wise and constructive decision which can only benefit the staff and students at the new school.

The job at hand now is to make the school work and fulfil its mission. The creation of CedarBridge has been plagued by natural fears on the part of parents and the general public that it will turn out to be ungovernable and unmanageable.

However the Government has built a world-class facility which must be the envy of school systems anywhere. If you visit CedarBridge, you are stunned by the high quality of the building, the modern concept and the landscaping.

But there is a good deal more than that. Every detail seems to have been considered from the security systems to provisions for the safety of the students. Computerisation extends into every learning area from art to mathematics. Great consideration has been given to facilities for students in need of special help and to those with physical or learning disabilities.

There is a heavy emphasis on special and personal attention as there should be in a school which was created because some students were perceived as "falling through the cracks''.

Students will be encouraged to take pride in the school in all kinds of ways including being involved in decision making for the school and in monitoring behaviour. The thrust is that being a CadarBridge student will become something to be proud of and that Bermuda will have reason to be proud of CedarBridge. So far so good, because we can all be proud of the building.

Now comes the hard part, making the building work as a school. We were impressed last week by the enthusiasm of the Headmaster, Ernest Payette, and the staff at the school. Under great stress to have the new school up and running for today, there was a tremendous atmosphere of optimism and enthusiasm throughout the building.

The school will have growing pains and we have no doubt of that because they are inevitable in an operation of this size but we urge that the public be constructive and understanding if problems become public. CedarBridge is a reality and it will need strong support from parents and the general public.

We also know that there are efforts to turn any problems at CedarBridge into political issues. We think the public should be aware of that and we hope that people will agree that CedarBridge should be left alone so that it can develop and grow. If there are moves to "kick it around'' then it will be damaged before it has a chance to prove itself.

Bermuda has a huge investment in this school both in terms of the future of young Bermudians and in terms of effort and public money. Let's give the young people and the administrators and teachers a good start and a fair chance.