Parents' leaders at CedarBridge Academy last night urged all families to throw their support behind the school administration in a united stand against violence following a serious knife attack on a security guard.

Parent Robin Richardson, spokesman for the school's Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), said everyone connected to the school had been devastated by the stabbing on Wednesday morning, which resulted in safety officer Karim Wales receiving wounds to his neck, back and chin.

But Mr. Richardson said the attack had proved why CedarBridge Academy required the present safety measures, such as security-locked doors and student identification cards.

However, he said the PTSA was eager to see security officers given additional training and more powers, as suggested by Education and Development Minister Paula Cox soon after the incident on Wednesday.

He said: "It goes without saying that this was most regrettable, but we would like to think that out of something evil is going to come something good.

"We feel that what happened on Wednesday brings to light why we need such stringent security measures at CedarBridge. We have had some criticisms from parents who wanted to know whether CedarBridge was running a school or a prison.

"On top of these security measures, we would like to see even more power given to the security officers. At the moment, they are more for surveillance and reporting of incidents. They offer a show of strength.

"We feel that they have to be given more teeth."

But Mr. Richardson said this was a time when everyone at the school needed to pull together. He added: "We would like to take this opportunity to say to all parents that have children at CedarBridge that it's an excellent academic institution and the administration is working with the Department of Education to do everything that it can.

"The school needs everyone's support, as always."

Mr. Wales, 31, was attacked just before school began by an expelled pupil wielding a five-inch blade early on Wednesday. He remained in a stable condition at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's Intensive Care Unit last night.

night. At a Press conference on Wednesday, Ms Cox said it was totally unacceptable that Mr. Wales had been stabbed. She said she had visited Mr. Wales in hospital and had assured him she would do everything she could to empower and protect him.

Ms Cox said new laws giving school security guards the power to arrest intruders might be a possibility, similar to legislation in Europe.

And she said increased powers would be balanced with improved screening of recruits to make sure they had the necessary training and education.

But she added: "You are not talking about having Rambo in the schools."

Last night, chairman of the school board Constance McHardy also called for unity.

But she said the problem at CedarBridge on Wednesday was not a school problem, or a parent problem, she said it was an issue for the whole community.

She said: "We need to address this as a community because it's a community problem.

"If we all do the best we can to support each other, then we will have the results that we want.

"If we lay blame, then we will continue to see the problems we are seeing.

"I would ask the parents and everyone to support the school."

Mr. Richardson agreed that it was not only down to the Education and Development Ministry and the administration to ensure the school was safe and secure.

He said parents had to be responsible, too.

"We feel that the onus has to be on parents," said Mr. Richardson.

"Every parent in Bermuda has to look at this situation and know that any kind of behaviour starts at home. Parents are the ones who have to clamp down.

"All parents should ask themselves whether their child could have been the one to do this. All of us need to feel regret because it could have been any of our children. Do we always know what they are doing and what they are capable of?

"Parents need to act now. Everyone has to be held accountable."

But he said while parents were taking a long hard look at their youngsters and themselves, they should also throw their support behind the school.

He added: "All parents should be made aware that CedarBridge is doing all it can to make sure children get a good education and they are safe at school. It needs the full support of parents - we are urging that they give it."

Ms. McHardy praised the staff and students for dealing with the "crisis" on Wednesday in a mature and supportive way.

She added: "A crisis brings out the best and worst in people, but this brought out the best in the CedarBridge family.

"We hope now that everything that needs to be done, will be done."