As we embark upon a new school year, please allow me to express some of my thoughts.

The dissatisfaction with Bermuda's public school system has been, in recent years, greatly publicised.

As an employee of Bermuda's children (I am employed in the public school system), I believe that there is no one magic solution that is going to erase our community's dissatisfaction. I also believe that as long as people hold onto the notion that the publc school system must meet the needs of all students without sufficient trained staff and adequate facilities, there will continue to be dissatisfaction. As long as people keep holding only one segment of our population responsible for our children's education there will be dissatisfaction. I have been quietly, and on some occasions, not so quietly advocating for changes that will benefit my students.

However, when a system-wide change is necessary, change occurs slowly., if at all. Attending a public school should not be perceived as negative and working in a public school should not be seen as degrading. While it is unrealistic to expect that there will never be dissatisfaction with Bermuda's public education system, I have faith that the level of dissatisfaction will soon greatly diminish.

What I ask is that the Ministry of Education give credibility to and put into effect the changes forwarded by public school personnel, students and parents and stop disregarding our ideas and making us feel like giving up. There is so much use of the word accountability, I also ask that we give it more than lip service. Each player in the public school system, for that matter any school system (administratiors, personnel, parents and students), needs to be clear about their roles and responsibilities; what is expected of each of them. All need to be clear about the types and quality of services to be provided by the "system''. When this has been done, then the "system'' and it's "players'' can be held accountable by a Board of Education that is comprised of a cross-section of our entire community and not afraid to pursue action when necessary.

I take my job extremely seriously. I continuously ask myself what else I need to do to ensure that my students are experiencing success and whether I am doing my best. I will continue to ask these questions and hold myself accountable to my employers (my students). I promise that the day I no longer feel this way or my employers no longer get the sense that I feel this way, then I will hand in my resignation. Right now I only speak for myself, but I can assure you that I have many colleagues who feel and believe the same way.

I just hope they join me and, perhaps, speak out publicly with their vow to be held accountable as well.

TEACHER Smith's Parish DeCouto was spot-on September 4, 2000 Dear Sir, The disturbing speech by our Premier at the last sitting of the House is food for thought and perhaps a wake-up call to all of us who care about our Island and Democracy.

I agree with Ann Cartwright DeCouto one hundred percent. When our Government wants to change anything in our Constitution as serious as reducing the number of Parliamentarians, this must require a Constitutional Conference. I hope my fellow Bermudians are not going to be so naive as to believe this famous quote, "one man, one vote, each vote of equal value''. In my humble opinion that is a lot of garbage. Please open your minds and read Friday's Mid Ocean on this subject. Not just the front page but also the "Opinion'' by Tim Hodgson. It is all serious, so take time to think about it and stand up and be heard. After all, this Government is supposed to be for the people! For a change, Listen To Us.

K. A. TRERICE Hamilton Parish Give us a different view September 5, 2000 Dear Sir, Just a few weeks to go before we are bombarded with the "United States'' Olympic Games courtesy of one of the big networks.

It is too late for this year but maybe, in 2004, our local stations could do a deal with the BBC to receive its' coverage. At least we would get a better idea of what is happening at the Games and miss self-serving displays by various `Dream Teams' or the stomach-churning biographies of some of the US participants.

I live in hope that the broadcasters will exhibit some maturity but, somehow, I think my foot will be poised to push it through the television screen! SPORTS FAN City of Hamilton Don't let yourself down September 5, 2000 Dear Sir, There are some people in Bermuda who have not yet achieved getting a high school diploma and are not living up to their full potential. I am writing from personal experience to tell others that there's still hope for them to better themselves.

In my academic career I have had problems learning because when I was born I had a hearing problem and it took a long time for me to absorb information, so in the early beginning of my childhood my academic ability did not look so promising.

There were some people who thought I wasn't going to amount to anything and even told my own mother I was not going to make it in life, but I want to let all my fellow Bermudians know that when you trust in Jesus Christ it doesn't matter how intelligent you are or what people think about you as long as you stay faithful he will bring you through no matter what the situation looks like.

When I look at where I was and where I am now I truly know it was God leading me and not myself. I am now 17 years old. I graduated at the age of 16 with two high school diplomas from two different academic institutions. I graduated from Bermuda Christian Academy and I also graduated with a General Educational Diploma. I am now planning to attend Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama in the month of January.

For those of you who have not yet achieved a high school diploma, I encourage you to enrol in the Adult Educational School and live up to your academic ability.

At this time I would like to thank the teachers of Bermuda Christian Academy for their help and support they have shown to me. Out of all the teachers I have come in contact with Christian teachers seem to be more dedicated to helping the students with learning difficulties and will take the time to explain certain things to a person.

In ending, I leave everyone this Scripture. "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.'' Philippians 4:13.

KENNETH MINORS Southampton Hotels need subsidies September 6, 2000 Dear Sir, Having retired from my brief stint in Bermuda politics, I hope you will grant me some space in your newspaper for some non-partisan observations. I found it most ironic that your edition of 06/09/00, page 5, featured a report on Mr.

Robert Stewart's speech on hotel subsidies, juxtaposed against a report on TBI lowering their long distance rates.

Just about two years ago, when I was Telecommunications Minister and Mr.

Stewart was my Chairman of the Telecommunications Commission, I prevented Cable & Wireless from lowering their rates to meet those of the fledgling TBI, in order to give the new company a chance to gain market share and get on its feet and not be squished like a bug by its giant competitor. After a tumultuous period of public negative advertising and threatened lawsuits, the Government took the shackles off C&W and the two companies now compete on an even footing with the public benefiting from falling rates and better service.

That Government intervention into private markets was the economic equivalent of a subsidy in favour of TBI. It was temporary and successful.

Mr. Stewart's remarks were clearly political in nature (I'm out of that game now) but were based on his interpretation of certain economic principles.

However, these are textbook principles and bear little resemblance to the real world in which we live. Government subsidies are ubiquitous worldwide, they're a fact of life. Government subsidies have incubated some of private enterprise's most outstanding successes, including the microchip and the Internet, that's right, the Internet was subsidized by US tax payers for years before it took off. Microchips were first used by NASA in the space programme.

Fuel cell technology, a 100 percent pollution free means of producing electricity, has received millions of dollars in subsidies and will, within a few years, revolutionize power generation and transportation. Even Shell, a company Mr. Stewart (and myself) worked for, has received subsidies from the US government, the global champion for free markets.

Bermuda's competitors in tourism widely use tax incentives (otherwise known as subsidies) to attract investment capital to their shores. The mega-complex Atlantis in the Bahamas was achieved, in part, because of government tax incentives. Hotel financiers can invest their funds in any one of many alternative jurisdictions that offer tax incentives. Simply put, Bermuda has to compete for this investment dollar. The incentives package recently passed recognizes the real world in which Bermuda finds itself and appears to be practical common sense.

I am hopeful that this move, coupled with the progress made through the Monitor Group, will help us make Bermuda a more attractive place for hotel development capital, something which is prerequisite for the rejuvenation of our tourist industry.

No politics, Mr. Editor, just plain talk.

E.T.(BOB) RICHARDS Warwick An early wake-up call September 4, 2000 Dear Sir, How refreshing it was to see an article based on an interview of Mrs. Anne Cartwright DeCouto in the Friday, September 1, edition of the Mid-Ocean News, concerning the current Constitutional Crisis facing Bermuda. Everyone who read this straight talking interview must have sat up and taken notice, if they had not already been painfully aware of our present position. It takes someone of Mrs. DeCouto's intelligence and political experience to put our position so clearly before us. We must say a sincere thank you to her and to Rebecca Zuill for her well written article.

To think that we could have arrived at the re-convening of Parliament without the bill which was placed before the House on its last day of sitting, having had the careful research and discussion by the voting public, that is essential in such a basic mater concerning the future of the Island, is spine chilling to say the least.

To turn to OPINION, the column written by editor Tim Hodgson in January last was breath stopping. For to relate what has happened in other colonies (or ex-colonies) and to have fresh in one's mind what Mrs. DeCouto so eloquently lays out for our attention of what could, and probably would happen here, is an urgent wake-up call to any thinking person. Immediately comes to mind, "what to do about it?'' and immediately comes the answer "to band together as a free and democratically thinking group of people and to demand a Constitutional Conference before any further action is taken on this situation.'' Let us, without delay, form a committee with the foresight and ability to offer to the people of like concern, the means by which they can take the necessary action to put our concerns to those who can put a brake on these far-reaching ambitions and save this Island community from an ultimate dictatorship.

JOYCE D. HALL, MBE Pembroke Put Club Med to good use September 3, 2000 Dear Sir, Referring to the recent articles in The Royal Gazette concerning the growing number of "seniors'', why not utilize the Club Med/Holiday Inn hotel in St.

Georges as a retirement facility? The Marriott corporation is presently developing this category of hotel to provide for the growing senior market.

Different levels of care can be conveniently achieved on different floors as may be required.

If Bermuda does not have sufficient expertise, no doubt Marriott could be helpful, or even manage the entire operation.

A further advantage is the many facilities at the hotel which would be a boon to the retirees.

I don't believe that there is sufficient tourism demand for an investor to redevelop a resort property.

CONRAD ENGELHARDT Paget PS. Following are some of the facilities.

1 Beaches and ocean swimming 2 Swimming pool (heated winter) 3 Hot tubs 4 Whirlpools 5 Movies 6 Occasional live entertainment 7 Bingo and horse racing 8 Bus and/or ferry service to Hamilton 9 Exercise facilities 10 Private bedrooms with panoramic views, most with balconies 11 Library 12 Kitchen and dining room 13 Lounges and TV and radio in every room PSS.Partial funding with regularly scheduled lotteries.

Spot the difference September 2, 2000 Dear Sir, When are people going to understand the difference between child abuse and discipline? Why don't you take off your belt. Now hit yourself hard enough to leave a mark on your leg with the belt. Repeat this same action 23 times! How long did it take you? How do you feel about yourself now? Do you feel disciplined or abused? KIM YOUNG J.P. M.P.

Paget