Beginning six years ago with a simple teaching style that could help children with learning disabilities, The Learning Centre's techniques and styles have slowly evolved into a therapeutic programme that now provides academic and social assistance to both child and family.

The new role that The Learning Centre plays in our society is crucial to the development of new relationships between children and their parents, teachers, grandparents and pastors, assistant director Peter Carey said.

"Some say kids need to be hit into submissiveness for their bad actions,'' continued Mr. Carey. "That might make them conform or do a task, but they will never grow and you will never be able to change their hearts.

"We walk a spiritual walk where each child is whole and complete if we walk patiently with them and show them our unconditional love. They begin to believe in their own competence and ability and this will lead them down the right path, but the kids must eventually walk that path on their own, and that is a big choice for them to make.'' The Learning Centre is running a summer programme sponsored by the National Drug Council in which they selected 25 children who they believe truly need their help.

"We do not deal with children that have mental illness or neurological problems -- we concentrate on the children and families that face problems such as learning disabilities, sexual and physical assault, divorce, drug and alcohol addictions and family breakdowns,'' stated Mr. Carey.

"The kids we deal with are sad with their lives, they would rather quit than put up with being teased, harassed or assaulted,'' explained Mr. Carey. "When we ask them if they want something better, they always tell us they do, and we explain to them it will take a lot of hard work and that we will stick with them, but they must walk the walk.

"We do not believe that all problems emulate from the children themselves, but from the home and family itself,'' said Mr. Carey. "We must tackle both problems so that when the children begin to change, their parents will change also to facilitate the progression of the child.

"We find treatment for the parents for violence and addictions. We help break down problems and look at each section one at a time.'' The children respond beautifully, Mr. Carey explained, although it takes time.

"What we teach is a lifetime process, each student must make the commitment.'' "Quick fixes are worth nothing to us. We want the children to learn how to live.'' "The programme is an investment in the Island's future,'' he said. "These kids are in a pot-hole. If no one intervenes they will dig themselves a deeper hole and soon find themselves in a pit.'' "Government spends about $40,000 a year per prisoner in Westgate, and just this year they pulled their grant of $20,000 from the Learning Centre.'' Centre's a boost for troubled kids "We must look at education and learning as a solution to our current problems with violence and misbehaviour,'' Mr. Carey continued.

"Money spent now on these children will be saved in the long run when they don't end up in prison costing everyone $40,000 a year.'' The Learning Centre's goals are making sure the children have a safe home environment, looking at family dynamics so that bonds can grow between siblings and parents and making referrals to the family for extra help from government and private offices.

"We need to get the community to reach out to the children by creating an extended family model, with everyone helping and learning from each other,'' stated Mr. Carey. "We are not looking for money. We are looking for people that care and will act as extended family to support and look after these kids.'' "Our programme hires Bermudians studying for their Master's degree in counselling. These people are great -- without them our programme would not run as well as it does,'' he explained.

About a quarter of the cost of the programme is paid for by parents. "This shows that are truly interested in their child's well-being, and it draws them into the programme at a deeper level,'' Mr. Carey said.