November 24, 2011Dear Sir,Allow me to discuss the future of a Bermuda that we all speak about but don’t travel the lip service road to get there. I’m talking about the last bastion of the old ways that divided us and continues to be a thorn in all our sides.If we want to be one, than we need to remove things in place that prevent it. Without it we can never get there, trust me, I will say it again, we will never get there.So let’s get to the heart of my point. Mr Editor, everyone has an opinion about why private schools were created. It does matter significantly to begin to understand why they were created, but more importantly why we should move away from them.It’s important to think about our own beliefs, about how we can end the division that exists between the races, the rich, affluent, the poor, non-affluent and all the others. There will always be rich and poor, that’s not the issue. This is how children can play a significant role in putting this problem to a large degree to bed.Bermuda I’m talking directly to you! The men and women, black and white, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, the young men and women! To our Leaders, the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and the Opposition the UBP/OBA, activists amongst us vocally and quietly, we need to look seriously at eliminating the Private School system.How can we continue to believe we can move forward together if we still maintain a divide between the rich and poor, blacks and whites, poor blacks and whites? How could the young educated white Master John Smith meet and grow a relationship with the equally educated poor black Master Devon Smith? Or the young poor black Sheena Davis girl denied the same with the educated rich white Sandra Davis girl. Both separated by a system of adult mindsets who continue to portray that they have their best interests at heart, on both sides, Hmmmmm.If you’re worried about the issues about white children playing with black children, then don’t be! Children are innocent, open minded and willing to learn from adults and each other, from birth to the first day entering pre- to primary schools.Children are different from us! They have not yet developed comfort zones within themselves. It grows with them as they mature with growth and knowledge. So we should not limit them with our standards and ideals and let them develop their own amongst themselves.We cannot and should not hide behind the word choice, because that word blinds us to the real issues, problems that this system plays in the division that is just maintenance of the current system in place. We need to change ourselves before we can change what’s in place. Think about this: One Education system for all, every child to meet and play socially within the schools that they attend. These relationships will grow into after school relationships that not only benefit each other but it will expand to each other’s friend bases and the building of the future that we talk about will begin.Let me deter a little away from that for a little and state this from a political prospective, Bermuda, how could anyone believe that any Members of Parliament, Senators or more directly any past, or future Education Ministers who have their child or children in the private school system have the best interests of all of us at heart if they don’t believe or participate in the process that they promote as good for you but not good enough for them.Now let me get back to the issue, if we really, really, really want to change things here, than let our children do it, and let us step away and watch them work their magic, and we will eventually see a Bermuda we claim we want to have.Why deny some segment of our children an equally good education? Let’s not deny them a very vital part of their development, a social education as well.Let us learn from them. Remember, we can never come together if the road we begin with has two separate paths.BROWNLOW ADDERLEYSouthampton