black male students wants to get black men into school classrooms.

The group, called One Hundred Black Men Plus, wants volunteers from all sectors of the community.

Organiser Mr. Llewellyn Simmons revealed plans last night at a Forum on Youth Violence to try and bring positive role models into the education system, particlarly at the primary school level.

"It is at this level that males are conspicuously absent,'' said Mr. Simmons, who also wrote a letter to the Editor.

He wants students not only to learn about positive role models but to see them in action.

His remarks follow the admissions of many inside and outside of the education system that too many black males fall through the cracks of the system.

Mr. Simmons, a teacher at Sandys Secondary School, said the newly-formed group will be able to assist teachers, primarily female teachers, with building students' self-esteem.

He mentioned subject areas such as "athletic-academic success, male rites of passage in spirituality, history, economics, politics, career developments.'' While saying that members of the group did not have to be highly-educated men, he emphasised the need for a "degree of commitment, strong character, and will''.

"We want no ego-gratifying head-cases,'' he stressed. "No paternalistic attitudes of black men who think they are doing youth and others a favour by joining the prestige of the organisation is required.

"Be prepared to be held accountable for your conscious behaviour, deeds, and action.'' He was speaking at a meeting organised by concerned parents Mr. Cromwell Shakir and Mr. Radell Tankard. Around 50 people turned up to hear speakers from the Public Transportation Board, Teen Services and the Statisticians Office.

Mr. Shakir said: "The mission statement is to enhance the total growth and development of our youth. Instead of looking through the Yellow Pages to seek the help of experts you can come forward with an offer to help yourself.'' Mr. Tankard said: "It is good to see that we have decided that it's time to realise the problems of our youth. We decided we would go ahead from here even if only 10 people turned up.'' The weather, heavy rain showers, did not help the turnout at the Centennial Hall.

Speakers from the table and from the floor called for parents to act as role models and to help children if they had problems and not ignore them until they were too late.

They asked for social help for needy families and the availability of jobs for young Bermudians returning from college who find vacancies filled by Canadians and Europeans.

Statistican Ms. Janet Smith pointed out that unemployment, low wages and divorce affected young black males in particular.

Teen Services spokesman, Mr. Arthur Douglas blamed peer pressure for some problems. He said if youngsters see violence in the home and in the community they will become violent themselves.

Many of the people present signed up for workshops aimed at solving the problem of youth violence.

Mr. Simmons invited anyone interested in joining his group to contact him at 234-1346 or Progressive Labour Party MP Mr. Nelson Bascome.