We think it is important to point out what he sees as important but really as only symptoms of Bermuda's problems, "AIDS, drug abuse, Independence, and the environment'' and we want to emphasise his statement, "All of which deserve the attention they are beginning to receive, but none of which stem the tide of delinquents, school failures, mounting prison population, escalation of racial tension, and gap between have-too-much and have-too-little. '' We think that David Critchley effectively defined the roots of Bermuda's troubles and it will not escape anyone's attention how much of his concern is with young people.

In his writing he says, "But Bermuda also has its Los Angeles back o' town of alienated (mainly black) young people who have not found a hospitable welcome in their homes and schools. Here and abroad, I have talked and worked with hundreds of such castaways. They form a woeful company of the hurt, angry, ignorant, and have little control over their destructive and usually self-defeating impulses. In my experience and supported by much research, they also are hard-put to recall any teacher who they felt really gave a damn about them.'' Mr. Critchley is frustrated because he sees no real consideration being given in Bermuda to the plight of those we have cast away. Much of his frustration stems from a teaching flaw which he sees in the Ministry of Education. He says, "...I had felt that my very specific proposals concerning the necessity of having any programme of educational reform based on the training and availability of effective teachers would receive serious consideration by the Ministry of Education, the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers, Parent Teacher groups, the Opposition, or at least a group of concerned Bermudians.

Surely, so important a matter would encourage us to rise above the pettiness of personalities and politics.'' He says, "I have no doubt that, if we would take off the blinkers and do some real fact-finding about our Bermudian casualties, we would find that we have a potentially dangerous significant minority of Bermudians who...have not experienced adults as caring, understanding and free from pretence -- all documented requirements of effective parents, teachers, and anyone else who has any significant contact with other human beings. But of all such persons, teachers are the last resort when home and other nurturing resources are deficient.'' Mr. Critchley is deeply concerned about the functioning of teachers. He says "Teachers are also the only ones where we can assure that they have the human relations skills so desperately needed by what we have come to call our underclass.'' He also said, "I hope that somewhere along the line someone in authority will pay some attention to the fact that middle schools and comprehensive schools will almost certainly aggravate an already serious problem if we first don't make sure that our teachers are effective.'' He is saying that by guaranteeing effective teaching you can prevent social problems caused by people who now "slip through the cracks'' and become castaways. Mr. Critchley's writings indicate a great and deep concern for these people and for their influence on the Country. He considers caring for them and solving their problems vital "for the sake of our future peace and survival as a place fit for humans'' because he recognises "the destructive forces of those among us who have long since learned they have nothing to lose''.

To prevent social problems caused by those people who "slip through'' the cracks is exactly the reason Government has chosen to undertake its vastly expensive and highly complex and controversial overhaul of the education resulting in middle schools and a mega-high school.

Mr. David Critchley says the solution takes effective teachers with human skills and the Ministry of Education is not listening.

To be continued...