will come if too many of its youth are left believing they have no future.

American educator, author, and lawyer Dr. Crystal Kuykendall stressed this to several hundred parents, educators, and Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan who attended the middle school conference at The Princess hotel on Saturday.

And, in a speech which brought her cheers and a standing ovation, she challenged parents and teachers to seize the opportunity to put all children "in the winners' circle.'' "By putting children in the winners' circle, you will be putting this nation in the winners' circle,'' Dr. Kuykendall said, using the theme of the conference organised by Bermuda's Middle School Association, National PTA, Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers, and Association of School Principals.

While noting that Bermuda "has already been distinguished through the efforts of its young people,'' the widowed mother of three said: "There are still some students on this Island who are hurting, and the reality is, if they lose, you lose.'' Dr. Kuykendall, who lives in Washington DC where last year the drop-out rate was 46 percent and most were children in the seventh grade, said: "Whether you're losing children physically, mentally or emotionally, the bottom line is the same.

"When too many youngsters become convinced that they will not succeed, they take whatever skills and ingenuity they have and they go the low road and when they take the low road, we all pay the price.'' The much-sought-after speaker stressed that: "One marriage that has to work for the sake of our children is the marriage between home and school.'' "Schools can and must make a difference,'' she said. "Teachers have tremendous power. You can be a tool of torture or you can be an instrument of inspiration.'' Dr. Kuykendall warned teachers not to be "tripped up'' by obstacles such as: a student's prior achievement; a child who is labelled as having a learning disability; and making decisions based on the socio-economic status of the child.

Dr. Kuykendall, who was born to a low-income teenage mother in Chicago, said she was able to succeed because her mother and some teachers made her feel good about herself.

"I'm one of the lucky ones,'' she said. "But there will be some children who will come from homes that are poor, but unlike me they will not be given the benefit of the doubt.'' She also urged teachers not to make assumptions about a student based on the child's appearance, race, gender, or language.

"When you send a signal that lets children know that you cannot appreciate their background, culture, or racial identity, then you're setting the stage for us versus them mentality that can overtake us,'' she said.

"Your behaviour has an impact on the attitude of a child and their academic performance.'' Dr. Kuykendall urged parents and teachers to be enthusiastic; to help children be proud of their culture, and to be resilient.

Referring to a US study that showed 80 percent of black children felt good about themselves at age six, at 10 years 20 percent still did, but at the age 16 only five percent still do, she said: "Don't let that happen in Bermuda.''