suggest that the Island's schools are going to be well served by their new Minister.

Sen. Scott appears to be putting his emphasis on the two areas which are most important -- the students and the teachers.

While the previous Government, having committed itself to restructuring the system and building CedarBridge, sometimes gave the impression that it was more focused on bricks and mortar than on the humans who would be using the schools, Sen. Scott seems to have his priorities right for this stage in the schools' development.

Of course, he runs the risk of getting wrapped in buildings and curriculum development as well, as the middle schools are improved and the new Berkeley is built.

But so far, he is going in the right direction with his announcements that failing students will be held back and incompetent teachers will be fired.

Sen. Scott has stated that the students who are falling behind will be held back in years three and six. It remains to be seen if that gives teachers and schools enough opportunities to give a student a second chance. A child who falls behind in year four will be in serious trouble by the time he or she repeats year six and it might be advisable to give principals more flexibility.

But the general standard which Sen. Scott is setting is a good one. Students must get the message that they will not coast through school without gaining the knowledge they need to succeed in the rest of their lives.

This may indeed hurt a child's self-esteem, but it is also tough love -- students who leave school without the education they need will be far worse off than the child who resents being held back.

Sen. Scott's commitment to information technology is also right -- if the Island is to compete in a world which is changing by the day as a result of advances in computer technology, it needs Bermudians who have mastered the area.

Sen. Scott has shown in a number of areas that he recognises where the problems in the schools lie. He has also, as evidenced by his back-tracking on the question of free tuition for top public school students going to the Bermuda College, that he is flexible and can change direction when it is clear that he is in the wrong. That's good for education and by extension, it is good for Bermuda.

WHITE PAPER EDT White Paper At long last, the Island's leaders are going to discuss the White Paper on Bermuda's future relations with the United Kingdom.

While these public discussions should have begun long ago, it is to be hoped that today's debate will be constructive and informative for the public.

This issue is too important for the day to degenerate into political bickering and pointmaking. All Members of the House of Assembly -- and the Senate -- have valuable contributions to make on an issue which is vital to all Bermudians. A constructive debate which leads to a consensus on the Island's best approach with the UK would be a spectacular legacy for this Parliament.