Bermuda's public educational system has endured intense scrutiny over the last few weeks as parents, politicians and professional educators search for new and innovative ways to bring the best out of our students.

As the beginning of another school year rapidly approaches, RG Magazine senior writer John Burchall looks at why the teaching profession attracts and retains so few male teachers. Only 20 per cent of the public school teachers are men and most of the Principals are women.

In an article entitled `Too Few Good Men'', Robert Horton, a former deputy principal at the Berkeley Institute and a former senior education officer tells Burchall: "Many have little direct contact with positive men and it is in the schools where they are often exposed to a male presence. This is especially true in the pre-school and primary schools where unfortunately there are not that many men.'' The public system is not alone, however, as the private schools are also wrestling with the issue.

Meanwhile, our cover story this month features the teachers, students and principals of the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda who are putting on a gala performance at City Hall to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Patricia Calnan takes a historical excursion through the development of dance in Bermuda and talks to some of the major players in the development of the discipline including Barbara Frith, Louise Jackson and NDTB's current administrator Conchita Ming.

Other features include Duncan Hall's jaunt through Manchester, England in our travel section. Kim Dismont Robinson has an exclusive profile of Oprah Book Club author Edwidge Dandicat, while Chris Gibbons looks at how LogicPhone is using internet technology to reduce the cost of long distance phone calls from Bermuda.

All this and more is available in the August edition of RG Magazine which is free in tomorrow's newspaper.