yesterday.

Speaking at the Bermuda Union of Teacher's 13th annual conference, Michael Charles told those in attendance at St. Paul's AME Centennial Hall -- including Governor Thorold Masefield, Premier Pamela Gordon, and Education Minister Jerome Dill: "Never before has it been so difficult to be a teacher.

So many things have got out of hand.'' Despite years of talk and plans about restructuring, Mr. Charles said little had improved in education for teachers from two years ago when the BUT held its last annual conference.

"So many hurtful influences are bearing down on our young people, dragging them in the wrong directions and breeding hostility and alienation, that the struggle to maintain effectiveness becomes more and more exhausting,'' he added.

Teachers were under pressure from increasingly unruly students, unreasonable demands of adult society, and the unenlightened policies of their employers, he stressed.

"Excessive workload, lack of support personnel, lack of advisory service, lack of support in student discipline, capricious or distrustful methods of supervision are serious irritants,'' he added.

"These deny teachers positive satisfaction and make it more difficult for them to be professional. This ultimately means that children will be denied what is rightfully theirs, sound quality education.'' But he also pointed out that teachers played a key role at all levels of education and their ability to "successfully navigate through the maze'' of unprecedented stress and demands of the education system was a testimony to their commitment to their students and the profession.

"It is time to affirm our successes and to demand the understanding and support the profession needs now more than ever before,'' Mr. Charles told hundreds of his colleagues.

"Let us not underestimate our strengths. Engaging all students in learning is our primary mission as educators. That the interaction between teacher and student manifests as a miracle of learning is evidence of our success.'' However, Mr. Charles said despite teachers' best efforts, there were obstinate realities to consider, including: The number of students bringing problems of violence, drugs, and feelings of abandonment to school; The continuing weakening of the family which was being foisted upon teachers with the public's expectation that the school will solve social and economic problems; and In some cases, the increasing deterioration of the classroom and school environment.

"Teaching has never been easy,'' Mr. Charles admitted. "It is a profession open to criticism.'' But he added: "As we affirm the profession, the fact that teachers have professional needs must be acknowledged.'' EDUCATION