Prisons Commissioner Eddie Lamb's attack on "mindless and ill-disciplined adults" who set a bad example for children has met with a chorus of approval from readers of The Royal Gazette.

We reported yesterday how Lt. Col. Lamb, a governor of the Berkeley Institute, wrote a vigorous defence of the school in response to a complaint from a member of the public who witnessed an alleged attack by a female student.

He lambasted poor parenting and women with "potty mouths" and suggested the Island had "lost all sense of decency" with its "growing throng of adults" acting in an impolite, disrespectful, rude, hostile, rowdy and vulgar way.

Readers e-mailed our newsdesk yesterday to say that Lt. Col. Lamb, former Bermuda Regiment commanding officer, was bang on target with his remarks. Some even said the declining moral standards on the Island had prompted them to leave Bermuda.

Greta Peters told us: "Lt. Lamb is spot on. We moved our Bermudian family out of Bermuda for these reasons."

Latoya Jones wrote: "I think that Lt. Lamb is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!! I live in Atlanta and I feel that my children are being raised in a much better environment than Bermuda and that is VERY VERY sad!! At one time Bermuda was the place to raise children. Not any more!"

Donald Galloway, a Bermudian now living in Florida, said: "Let me applaud Prisons Commissioner Eddie Lamb for his honest and long- overdue assessment of the problems facing Bermuda.

"Many older Bermudians, like myself, have moved from the Island for a multitude of reasons, but one of the main concerns is the growing level of violent crime and the breakdown of family values that made Bermuda such a wonderful place to live."

Only one reader took issue with Lt. Col. Lamb. Treadwell A. Tucker wrote: "Lt. Col. Lamb listed off numerous examples of evidence he has witnessed of 'bad behaviour' in our society. Yet, Lt. Col. Lamb makes absolutely no mention of anything he actually DID, rather than just complain."

Here are a selection of some of the comments we received in support of the Commissioner:

Tanecia Barnett: "I am in total agreement with Mr. Lamb's e-mail. I myself, a single parent, am trying my best to be a positive role model for my son and to do right by him.

"Thankfully I have a very supportive family and while my parents and aunt were not happy when I informed them that I was pregnant, unwed and not fully an adult myself, they drilled it in me and helped me to understand the responsibility that I had 'chosen' to take on. For this I am ever grateful and do my best to do for my son what my parents and aunt have done for me."

Laura Patriciu: "Bravo Eddie!! Now there is a statesman if I ever read of one. Honesty, integrity. WOW!!!"

Wendy S. Harvey: "Three cheers for Col. Lamb. I could not have said it better myself!!! I agree if we adults can't be mindful of ourselves, can we at least be mindful when we are around the impressionable children."

Christie-Lee Weeks: "I completely agree!"

Marlon Williams: "He is a good man doing a great work and we should support him for the work's sake and for his accurate assessment about where we are as a community. We all need to take ownership of our problems. The days of finger pointing have long passed."

Mark Emmerson: "I could not have said it better than he did. You have to be a hermit not to have seen and heard this lack in good manners in public. Many grownups should be ashamed of themselves but they are not."

Paula Cabral: "I'm in agreement with all Mr. Lamb writes. I have witnessed many incidents such as the ones he cites and it is sad to realise the degradation of manners and mores in this 'village'."

B.E. Robinson: "If one is not taught the basics at home, how can we expect anything else? There are no excuses, parents just are not simply doing their jobs 'parenting'. How can you put the blame totally on schools when it starts at home?"

Lana Jordan: "I wholeheartedly agree with all he has to say. It is total lack of honour, respect and it has to come from the home."