Bermuda faces serious problems that involve every section of our island community. Apart from pulling down a huge debt, and trying to rebuild a society that is slowly falling apart in the area of behaviour, our most pressing problem, especially with young people, is the lack of discipline these days, starting from the home.

Although much has been said on this subject over the years, we continue to drift into the abyss of too many young people almost out of control, with no respect for life or any type of authority.

There are probably many factors contributing to such behaviour, but it is difficult to see much changing without the vital ingredient of discipline which seems to have vanished throughout our society.

Many children are now exposed to an atmosphere where anything goes and rude or antisocial behaviour is left unchecked. Children are most vulnerable to negative activities because they have no yardstick by which to make proper judgments. Once they feel left out of community life, anger and resentment take root, and it is only a matter of time before they become a community, Police, and judicial problem.

The military would be a total disaster without discipline and commitment to order. This is not to suggest that harsh brutal discipline bordering on abuse is the answer to our youth problems. Many fine successful citizens in this country would be quick to testify how old fashion discipline dished out early, kept them pointed in the right direction. Many of those, often referred to as old-timers, were true national heroes because they helped to mold people who made contributions to the country that many of us enjoy today. Discipline back then was supported by the community and parents knew this.

In recent decades, discipline has fallen away from family life, and in many cases it is now the children calling the shots and telling their parents in no uncertain terms what they want. Back talking to parents today is so common you can often hear a parent comment, he or she "is something else". or "it's just the way they are these days".

Education is a major tool for learning how to cope with various challenges in life and educators should demand the highest standards of their students. However, the best education system in the world cannot function properly without a well organised social structure that must have discipline as a key factor.

I still remember something at Central School, now Victor Scott, called the persuader. It was in the woodwork section of the school and the knowledge that it was there kept boys from stepping out of line while attending classes in basic carpentry. In those days if you stepped out line at school, you were punished there, and again at home when your parents found out.

Educators need full support from parents and guardians, and let's face it, they're not getting it. How to turn this around is more than a challenge for anyone. The former Premier, shortly before stepping down, remarked that the PLP needed all hands on deck to move forward. He should have said that Bermuda needs all hands on deck, which would include all political parties and community organisations, in order to pool strengths to solve crucial problems.

We are too small to operate in political pockets. No political party is ordained with the ultimate intelligence on any matter. We have the current political system and we must live with it. However even in that system, we need cohesion and transparency in the running of the country.

Most Bermudians want success from the Government of the day and it matters little which political party is steering the ship. What matters is that every passenger on that ship wants to feel confident in the direction the ship is travelling.

With gun play continuing and crime still a serious problem, not to mention a type of rage on our roads that most of us witness on a daily basis, there is much work to be done to restore civility in our society. While most of us wish the new Premier Paula Cox and her administration success, much will depend on how they connect with the populace.

There are many challenges ahead, but our future will also depend on how well we pass on the values that really matter, such as discipline and respect, beginning in the home.