The Old Elliott School telethon conducted over TV ZFB a few nights ago appears to have been a success. Whoever organized the programme worked hard and is to be congratulated.

However, we were told that one question had been asked several times, "What about the education of the coloured people prior to and immediately after emancipation?'' Mr. Burgess, the MC, could not have been expected to know the answer to this question, but there were one or two who were taking part as panelists who should have been able to do so but did not attempt it. It was noticed that some memories were very short. The very existence of Bishop Spencer School (now regrettably closed) should have reminded them.

In 1821 there came to Bermuda Rev. the Hon. Aubrey George Spencer from Newfoundland where he had been sent in 1819 as a missionary by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG). This young man had been enthusiastic but his health could not withstand the rigour of Newfoundland's climate. As a relief he was sent to Bermuda where he was made rector of Hamilton and Smith's Parishes.

In 1824 with the consecration of a new Bishop of Nova Scotia, of which Bermuda was now a part, this very large diocese was partitioned into four Archdeaconries of which Bermuda was one. Rev. Spencer was appointed as Bermuda's first Archdeacon and was transferred to Paget and Warwick where he remained for the next fifteen years.

The SPG and several other societies were introduced by Archdeacon Spencer who was very concerned about the education of those who could not hope to go abroad. Especially he took a very close interest in the Christian education of the slaves for whom emancipation was just over the horizon. In 1829 he was offered the Archdeaconry of Newfoundland which he declined in the "...interest of his great work on behalf of the coloured people''.

In all, the SPG, through the efforts of A.G. Spencer, was responsible for the provision of some thirteen schools for the use of the newly emancipated people. The first two were the Paget Glebe and the Lane School, also built on glebe (that of Pembroke and Devonshire at Bond's Bay). These SPG schools were also used as chapels and Sunday Schools.

In 1839 Newfoundland was made a separate diocese in which Bermuda was included and Aubrey Spencer was created its first Bishop. Hence the Bishop Spencer School. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, (SPCK) was introduced to Bermuda by Rev. George Coster, Rector of Pembroke. This society supplied teachers and books for these new schools. The Old Elliott School was not a SPG school but may well have received assistance from the SPCK. Miss Anne Butterfield Hinson, a granddaughter of the long-time Speaker of the House and founder of Pembroke Sunday School, taught at the Lane Sunday School on Sunday afternoons, for many years.

All of this and much more should be made known to all those who are interested in the beginnings of education for the post-emancipation slaves. Particularly Archdeacon the Hon. Aubrey George Spencer should not be overlooked nor forgotten.

JOYCE D. HALL Pembroke Lead by example February 23, 2000 Dear Sir, Your expeditious publication of this letter may result in the saving of two, possibly five, canine lives in the Bailey's Bay area. I would first of all refer to your front page article of July 20, 1999 concerning a dog domiciled at the household of Mr. Randolph Horton and the December 3, 1999 publication of Diane & Magdy Antone's letter dated November 19, 1999, the felonious animals reputedly a hybrid Rottweiler and Pit bull respectively. Residents of Bailey's Bay have recently noted two purebred, unleashed Dalmatians running amok and a pair of Boxers roaming dangerously close to the curtilage boundary of their domicile in this area. Clearly the owners of the Rottweiler, Pitbull and Dalmations are in contravention of the 1992 Dogs Amendment Act, yet no prosecution has resulted, particularly with regard to the offence in the Callan Glen area which, according to your July 20 article, has happened three times. Mr. Horton's dissension with regard to erecting a fence "because it costs money'' would indicate that he is a true politician and therefore somewhat averse to putting his hands in his own pockets. To the owners/keepers of the aforementioned canines, who by now may surmise that they are beyond the law, here are the following easily verifiable facts, should they make enquiries in this area. 1. That at least five dogs have been poisoned here within the last 14 years. One, it seems, was terminated within its authoritative milieu. 2. That law-abiding residents of this locale are not prepared to risk a repetition of the December 5 or 6 murderous attack on Mr.

Frank Alves by two hybrid Rottweilers resulting in scalp wounds needing 360 stitches, according to your December 8, 1997 publication. Indeed, it would seem, that the operating physician had to request the aid of surgeon Dr. James who was fortunately available, otherwise Mr. Alves might have succumbed to these horrendous injuries. Such an attack on a child would undoubtedly have been fatal. In closing, Mr. Editor, I would point out that three years' service on the R.U.C. in Northern Ireland has equipped me for dealing with dogs of at least two breeds, i.e. the canine quadruped and terrorist biped of the stamp similar to that of Mad Dog Adair mentioned in your page 15, September 15, 1999 Belfast article, i.e. a ruffian with a bible in one hand and a gun in the other. I will explain further in a subsequent letter.

WILLIAM A. WOODS Hamilton Parish Gallery celebrates success February 23, 2000 Dear Sir, We appreciate The Royal Gazette's coverage of the Bermuda National Gallery's "Window on the Azores'' exhibition, which has been a spectacular success. If you would allow me to bring to your attention a correction for today's article on Page 5. When our exhibition closed on February 19, our final count was 10,243, not the 1,200 as stated in this article. This makes a significant difference for us as it sets a record for a single exhibition's visitorship.

In fact we made the front page last week for reaching 10,000 complete with balloons and champagne. We had made 2,500 school children alone. The rest of the article is lovely -- we are infinitely proud of this show, our education programme and our community programming and so is much of Bermuda and the Azores. The feedback we have received indicates that the exhibition and the related programming has made an impact on our Bermuda artists, instilled pride in the Acorean cultural and artistic heritage and has encouraged the wider community to reach a greater understanding of the Portuguese people in Bermuda.

If you would indulge me for a moment to thank a few of the many people who made this exhibition possible, and with a budget of over $200,000, it was not an easy task. Thank you to each and every one of our 75 contributors, including the Azores and Bermuda Governments, the Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son and Benjamin Rego. Thanks to Eddie DeMello and his committee of Robert Pires and Karen Cabral for their Herculean fund-raising efforts, to Charles Zuill for initiating the concept of the show, to our counterparts in the Azores on the curatorial committee, and to our hard-working staff for pulling off this feat. The exhibition of artwork is of international importance, but the impact to be measured at home here in our community is what we love to see.

Thank you for The Royal Gazette's supportive coverage, and for giving me the space to ensure that our attendance figure is indeed correct at 10,243 for this show.

LAURA GORHAM Director Bermuda National Gallery Clean up their act February 17, 2000 Dear Sir, I am writing in response to the article that was published in the Gazette on Thursday, February 17, 2000 titled "Magistrate Calls for Tougher Sentences''.

According to the article Magistrate Carlisle Greaves and Shadow Minister Michael Dunkley are frustrated about the soft laws and unrealistic fines handed out to young offenders.

Hasn't it ever occurred to any of the magistrates handing out these reduced fines (and probation instead of incarceration) that there is something else that can be done. How about adding community service to their sentences? And please don't tell me that there isn't anyone to monitor them. If Bermuda can't figure out how to do this then I am sure they can ask the US, Canada or Britain. Community service has been effectively used in these countries for years.

We are always talking about the trash that is building up along side the roads, buildings that need renovating so that low income families have a place to live, beaches that need cleaning, senior citizen rest homes that need help, and much, much more. The possible places for community service volunteers are endless.

Obviously these young people have time and energy on their hands. And it is obvious that there is a great need in the community for help. Using their time and energy in a positive way, as well as, paying their fines will be a win-win situation. And if the fines and sentences are being handed out by Family Court magistrates then surely there are Family Court staff/probation officers to monitor community services sentences.

Perhaps the laws need changing but until that long process takes place, community service is certainly a positive way to go. Think about it! ST. GEORGE'S RESIDENT