While some Bermudians have called for tougher measures in schools to halt increasing incidents of violence, others have claimed that parents were to blame for failing to properly discipline their children.

But an informal survey carried out by The Royal Gazette this week to measure public opinion on recent episodes of violence in schools showed that a majority of those polled agreed that the problem must be addressed now.

And it was suggested that this could be done by improving the lines of communication between parents, students and teachers.

Self-employed businesswoman Miss Gina Cardell said youth were frustrated and were taking out such feelings on their teachers "who play a dominate part in their lives''.

"The students feel alienated from society and they believe that they are not being taken seriously enough as individuals in society,'' she said.

The frustration though was not just thought to be on the students part but also on the part of parents and teachers.

Teacher Miss Kennelyn Smith said some kind of disciplinary action should be taken against any student who strikes out at a teacher.

"The students need to be dealt with,'' Miss Smith said. "This type of violence should not be happening in our schools.'' And insurance executive Mr. Leroy Burchell said schools should take stronger, more traditional disciplinary measures with unruly students.

"Students should be put on detention for reacting violently in either a verbal or physical manner toward a teacher,'' he said.

"If that does not work they should be banned from all extra curricula activities for an extended period of time, and if the deviant behaviour continues they should be expelled from school.'' But others said a child's behaviour reflected its family upbringing. They added that what a child learned at home had a large effect on their behaviour in public and in school.

And Ms Cassandra Smith, a buyer for a local jeweller, said the problem therefore needed to be addressed first in the home.

"It's got to begin in the home with the parents teaching their children respect,'' she said.

Housewife Mrs. Innes McIntyre agreed, saying a good family relationship would go a long way in preparing a child for outside of the home.

"Often times parents are so frustrated at work that they do not spend quality time with their kids,'' she said, "and these kids are left alone to deal with feelings of inadequacy and low esteem.'' Teacher and mother Mrs. Patricia Greening said she was very concerned about the lack of respect for older people, property and teachers in particular.

"Parents and teachers need to start early in making children aware of t their own responsibility to society in a positive way.'' said Mrs. Greening.

But Mr. Keith Dears, a painter, said rules should be not only set in the home, but kids must be made to adhere to them in order for them to apply the principles outside of the home.

"Lack of respect is the main problem as I see it.'' he said.

"Ground rules need to be set. When I was in school it was all about respect but today's generation do not respect the older generation or it's values.'' Chef Mr. Milton Ming echoed similar sentiments and said: "The ruling out of corporal punishment in the school has bought us to this point.'' He added that he believed in discipline.

Office temporary worker Ms Jeanette Adumay agreed that students should be disciplined. But she said the problem should be addressed before violence occurred.

"I would advise student counsellors to get more involved with the student and try to recognise the problem before it gets to the point of violence,'' Ms Adumay said.

Two students polled said they felt the problem did not begin and end with the student and sometimes teachers' attitudes had a lot to do with the violent situation.

"Teachers' attitudes are sometimes wrong too and some students refuse to put up with it.'' Simon Riley. "Some teachers do not treat students with proper respect, so why should the student feel any respect for that teacher.'' Recent graduate Miss Shamain Talbot suggested that teachers talk to students to find out "what was going on with them''.

She said: "Talking to a young person and finding out what makes them tick can go a long way toward helping any disciplinary action.''