innovative way to bring outstanding personalities of Bermuda's past into the classroom.

With current trends in education leaning towards "inquiry based learning'', he has also moved in this direction, assembling "user friendly'' kits that tell the stories of people from Bermuda's history.

Selecting what he calls 100 "Builders of the Rock'', Mr. Butler is gradually providing information that will include biographical sketches, pictures and photographs, and where available, newspaper clippings and magazine articles.

These will all be placed in pocket folders that are easily handled by the student. Teachers will have access to copies of relevant tapes, videos and even excerpts from TV programmes.

The first 15 folders have been completed, with another 30 almost finished.

Hoping to have the first batch in schools by May, Mr. Butler plans to release further kits each year. He says the Island's school principals have unanimously welcomed the project which is geared mainly to upper primary and secondary levels, although they can be used at any level.

Mr. Butler says the purpose of the kits is to bring about a greater awareness of the Island's outstanding people.

"When I was doing some classes at Bermuda College a few weeks ago, I did a survey. Out of eight personalities that I mentioned, there was not one student who had heard of them. Then they started asking for more information, but we have a problem. If the teacher doesn't have the information we can't expect them to teach the children. So this will be a major resource for teachers and make Bermudian history and civics more interesting.'' Some of the names included in the first kits include suffragist leader Mrs.

Gladys Morrell, musicians Harry Forster and Ernest Bean, businessman John G.

Bassett, editor of The Recorder A.B. Place, educationists Edith Crawford, Doris Francis, Charles Snaith, architect Wycliffe Stovell and artist Charles Lloyd Tucker.

"It will probably take quite a few years to complete,'' says Mr. Butler, "so if anyone would like to help, either with the writing or as a sponsor, I would be happy to hear from them.'' Mr. Butler is the author of several Bermuda-related books. Among them are "Dr. E.F. Gordon: Hero of Bermuda's Working Class'', "Jazz of the Rock'', "Curtis -- The Life of Charles Michael Clarke''.

This May, he hopes to release a book entitled "Tall, Tall, Tall True Bermuda Tales'', with the theme of growing up in Bermuda. He is also in the process of producing a book on the wooden houses of Bermuda. PHOTO Mr. Dale Butler.