Earlier in the year, the Education Dept ran a series of ads applauding high-achieving students. In every single one I saw, there were at least a couple of errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation. OK, we all make mistakes but this is the Education Dept! Maybe they should have let the kids write the ads.

The education standards and practices in Bermuda are erratic, often outdated and in many cases bizarre. Corporal punishment - and I'm not talking about a mere rap on the knuckles - is commonplace. A lot of children are leaving school very poorly equipped for work and life.

Instead of spending the money on the various daft projects, or even new buildings that seem to take forever to be completed, how about coming up with a really good education plan. Take outside advice from a country that is succeeding in its education programme. Hire the best possible teachers, wherever they come from. Stop committing acts of violence in the classroom (what do we think this teaches students?) and start teaching love and respect.

Oh I have so many issues with the education system here in Bermuda!  At the end of the last school year, the RG ran quite a number of stories about the grade 12 pass rate.  Basically the government schools had a 49% pass rate.  This is really quite unacceptable.  Why and how could this happen?  Well, one of the problems is the teachers that they hire aren't necessarily teachers.  Like with any other sector, Bermudians must have first opportunity at a job.  But, a Bermudian doesn't necessarily need a teaching degree from a University!  They need to complete a teacher-training course offered here instead.  So these children are not necessarily being taught by certified teachers who have spent a minimum of 4 years learning how to be effective teachers.  Then to make things worse, the ministry of education announced this year that they were going to hire male teachers (and preferably Black males) over any other teacher for the next five years in an effort to give the young male students good role models.  Maybe I am crazy, but I would much rather see an education system where the teachers are trained professionals who know how to deliver the curriculum in an effective manner and are qualified to do so!  Yes, children do need strong male role models, but at the expense of a good education?  (Not to imply that there aren?t some fantastic male teachers-but I just don?t agree that you should be hired on the basis of your gender or race.  Again, perhaps I am just crazy!)

Seems like a typical case of the blind leading the blind.