not be taken lightly.

The issue of teaching hours has been a sticking point of negotiations between the Bermuda Union of Teachers and the Education Ministry for years.

This year marks the third year in a row that teachers have begun the school year with an expired contract.

Teachers have repeatedly complained about long hours, comparatively low pay, and little respect from some students, some parents, and the Ministry.

Their decision to take industrial action has not come out of the blue.

And there is no doubt that they gave careful consideration to the welfare of their students before voting to do so.

Rather than call in sick at some 40 public schools throughout the Island, sick-outs occurred at half a dozen schools in the central and West End parishes.

And after a five-hour meeting last night between education officials, teachers, and principals, teachers are expected to abide by arbitration rules and turn up for classes today.

During World Teachers Day last October, then-BUT president Michael Charles said some teachers were so dedicated to the profession that they would be willing to work year round.

He admitted that teachers were financially better off in Bermuda today than ten to 20 years ago.

But he stressed that they should "be recompensed as equals with other civil servants''.

This, he pointed, out did not necessarily have to be monetarily.

Considering their credentials, he said many teachers could find better paying jobs in other professions.

And current BUT president Anthony Wolffe has stressed that teachers were tired and burnt out.

Teachers frequently worked more than the 25-and-a-half contact hours (maximum length of time they are required to supervise under the collective agreement) a week and without a lunch hour, according to the BUT.

And their day often does not end at 3.30 p.m., considering the extra curricula activities, grading, and lesson preparation work they must do.

But those who are less sympathetic to teachers' concerns may question how anyone entitled to so many holidays, a seven-hour working day, and weekends off could ever complain.

Some, particularly parents, may also question teachers' commitment to the thousands of students who not only -- in many cases -- spent yesterday unsupervised due to the industrial action, but have lost precious hours of learning.

They may also argue that the satisfaction of watching young people blossom into well-educated, productive citizens should be any teacher's ultimate reward.

But Mr. Charles has pointed out that some teachers are parents themselves and because of their hectic schedule have little time to tend to the needs of their own families.

Maybe the latest action by teachers may force the Education Ministry to completely review working conditions in the public school system which some teachers feel have not kept up with employment conditions in other sectors.

The last inquiry into teachers' working conditions was carried out ten years ago.

And teachers' last major industrial action came about in March 1997 over school violence. It was resolved when the Ministry for the first time posted security guards at schools across the Island -- a sign that times had changed.

Since then many other areas of education have also changed, including the Minister who is a former general secretary of the teachers' union.

Considering this, it is probably therefore best that the matter has been taken out of his hands and referred to binding arbitration.

This hopefully will ensure that the matter is handled swiftly without any suggestion of bias or conflict of interest.

After all, the main focus must be the students and those paid to prepare them for life.