The attempt to break down barriers started shakily, but ended with a whole lot of shaking going on.

Martin Luther King would surely have enjoyed the sight -- parents, teachers and children from Dellwood and Mount Saint Agnes holding hands, singing and even hugging.

It seemed a fitting way to mark the late American civil rights leader's 68th birthday.

Ninety minutes earlier and this so-called "community dialogue'' last Wednesday between public and private schools -- blacks and whites -- had begun in stuttering fashion.

"Has anyone got a song to sing on a cold winter's night?'' asked Glenn Fubler, from organisers Beyond Barriers, the unity advocacy group.

The attempted ice-breaker at the Dellwood hall received a cool response from the 50-strong group, which included an even racial mix: nobody spoke.

Mr. Fubler battled on to begin the thaw.

"Dialogue,'' he said, "is an attempt to bring discussion to a deeper level, to share things more meaningful.'' The evening's theme, he pointed out, was the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child'', which demonstrated the importance of dialogue in a community; everybody should feel connected.

People were later invited to dip their hands in a buff envelope, pick out a paper slip containing a song title and hum the tune.

Mr. Fubler's instructions were simple: Wander the room and join up with those humming your song.

Three groups finally emerged -- one from Marvin Gaye's "I heard it through the grapevine'' -- and each was asked to compile a list of perceived threats to the community.

Watched by a Royal Gazette reporter, the Grapevine group soon rattled out a Doomsday list, displayed on a board for all to see.

Drugs, alcohol, violence, irresponsible parents, disrespect, unemployment, breakdown of family, unconcerned neighbours, teen pregnancies, television, questionable priorities of Government, etc. ...it made for gloomy reading.

"We are pampering children too much these days,'' said one teacher of 35 years experience.

"They are getting too much too soon. We should stop over-indulging them.'' She added: "There is also a changing relationship between parents and teachers. They should be working together more. Parents should be supporting schools.'' A parent commented on the faster pace of modern society: "People just don't have time to share any more, and the kids suffer as a result,'' she said.

Another mother said one overriding social threat had been forgotten: racism.

Everybody agreed it should top Grapevines' list, even though it had been thought of last.

The other two groups reflected thinking on similar lines. Their lists included single parents, AIDS, lack of spirituality, child abuse, pollution and traffic congestion.

Mr. Fubler then moved the dialogue to a crucial stage in the evening; how to get Dellwood and Mount Saint Agnes to work more closely.

A flood of ideas poured from the three groups, ranging from drug-free zones, a "say no to drugs'' club, fun walks and joint fundraising activities, to bake sales and community fairs.

Everybody appeared to agree the ideas of "pen pals'' and "play pals'' were among the best.

Mr. Fubler proposed another meeting in a month's time when some of the suggestions could be looked at in more detail.

"We have started a process,'' he said.

It was now time to wind the evening down.

Like a conductor waving a baton, Mr. Fubler told everyone to form a circle, join hands and sing. His next instructions were: Squeeze your neighbour's hand.

The squeezing was carried out in a clockwise sequence around the circle, starting with Mr. Fubler.

"Now hug three people!'' he cried out.

It was case of squeezed to meet you, perhaps. Yes, Dr. King would have enjoyed it.