Chief Education Officer Mr. Dean Furbert yesterday challenged teachers to lead by example.

In an impassioned speech to those at the Bermuda Union of Teachers' 13th annual conference, Mr. Furbert stressed that the success of education rested with the integrity of the teacher.

Mr. Furbert, who will retire next month after 37 and a half years in education, admittedly tried to resist "the temptation of making some profound statements''.

But judging from his brief remarks after being praised by BUT general secretary Sen. Milton Scott, it was evident that Mr. Furbert wanted to send a message in what was expected to be his last official address to public school teachers.

He said he had enjoyed the "honest exchange'' between himself and the BUT over the last seven years.

"Although we sat on opposite sides its always been my mode of operation to find common ground,'' Mr. Furbert said.

And he urged hundreds of teachers and educational officials, including Education Minister Jerome Dill and Shadow Education Minister Jennifer Smith, who packed Mount St. Agnes Academy's auditorium to work in the best interest of students.

"We must appreciate children's essential worth in spite of where they live or what family backgrounds they come from,'' Mr. Furbert stressed.

"The most important thing that an educator can have is not money, it's not books, not a bright classroom, not even perfect health. It's the sense that they give students that there is someone standing in front of them who believes in himself and believes in the person in front of whom they are standing, and will stand up for it.'' "I have little patience with people who don't believe in anything and I have less patience with people who believe in something and will not say what it is,'' Mr. Furbert stressed.

"What children need is people who have been on God's earth a little longer than them and are not afraid to say what they believe.'' Mr. Furbert noted that it was also important for teachers to acknowledge students' feelings.

If a child felt a teacher was picking on him or her, the teacher should believe that child regardless of whether or not there was evidence to support the claim, he said.

"Be yourself and share yourself with these young people who are entrusted to you,'' Mr. Furbert told his colleagues. "The success of our education and future rest with people with integrity and educators who love children.'' Clearly impressed with Mr. Furbert, teachers later commented that they had never heard the former teacher and principal speak publicly with such conviction.

BIG BAND SOUND ON SUNDAY ENT Big band sounds on Sunday The Hamilton big band concert that was postponed by Hurricane Felix in August has been rescheduled for tomorrow night.

Hosted by the Corporation of Hamilton and the Bank of Butterfield, the two-hour concert by the internationally renowned US Air Band will take place in Victoria Park at 5 p.m. and feature the music of such big band greats as Armstrong, Dorsey, Miller and Goodman.

"We're delighted,'' Corporation Secretary Mr. Roger Sherratt said yesterday, "to have the US Air Band flying back to Bermuda specially to play in Sunday's concert.'' The concert, which is free of charge, has been billed by organisers as a family event.

Free balloons and a dancing contest have been arranged for children. Listeners are also encouraged to bring along picnic suppers.