Victor Scott, which as the former Central School, gave many of the Island's current leaders a fine primary education in conditions which would be unacceptable today, appears to be in total disarray.

At least five teachers have filed a grievance against the principal, Esme Trott. Yet many parents seem to have great confidence in Mrs. Trott and are unhappy with the quality of teaching at the school.

Certainly, stories about teachers going on sick leave and then being found bartending should send a shudder through anyone who cares about the Island's education system.

Many teachers have expressed deep concerns about facilities and employment conditions in the schools and this may be the case at Victor Scott.

But depriving the children of education by calling in sick and staging similar actions cannot be the right way to go.

Education Minister Milton Scott has said that Chief Education Officer Dr.

Joseph Christopher has been told to organise a meeting with the parents where he is to listen to their concerns and reassure them.

That is a good first step, but much more needs to be done. If Mrs. Trott is doing a good job, then the Education Ministry must give her its full backing to allow her to run the school. If she is not performing, then she needs to be replaced and a principal put in her place who can bring back the standards the school needs.

Either way, the Minister needs to act to ensure that the children -- the innocent victims -- receive the education they deserve.

NICKELS AND DIMES EDT Nickels and dimes Bermuda's problems with tourism really come down to one issue; value for money.

The cost of getting here and staying here is high. An increasing number of visitors question whether they are getting value for money based on the quality of the accommodation and service they receive and the range of activities which are on offer.

Visitors who have to spend $500 or $600 to come to the Island will have higher expectations of their holiday than people paying $200 or $300. With that in mind, it seems odd that the airport is increasing the landing fee per passenger to airlines.

Airport officials have pointed out that the airport fees have not been increased in ten years and say that the welcome improvements to the airport have to be paid for.

And many people will say that increasing the fee from 59 cents per passenger to $1 this year and $1.20 next year is small potatoes; what, after all, is 60 cents to the average traveller? But to the airlines, this is another increase and another reason why air fares will not be brought down. As this newspaper reported yesterday, American Airlines will see its costs rise from $59,000 last year to $105,000 this year, a pretty heavy price to pay at what it says is already one of the most expensive airports in the Caribbean region.

This cost will either be passed onto the customer, or the airline will have to swallow it. Either way, it is another reason for air fares to remain high.

When Tourism Minister David Allen was in Opposition, he constantly argued against "nickel and diming'' the tourism industry to death.

This increase, no matter how justified or rational, is an example of Bermuda literally nickel and diming the tourism industry -- which needs lower costs, not increases -- into the grave.