Educators have expressed relief over the sentencing of two youngsters convicted of assaulting a former Warwick Secondary teacher.

While refusing to comment in detail, victim Victor Coggin told The Royal Gazette : "I'm just glad the whole issue is over and I can get on with teaching.'' The CedarBridge Academy teacher was on lunchtime duty at the former Warwick Secondary School on March 4 last year when he was attacked by the students, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The boys, now 14 and 16, were charged with acting together unlawfully assaulting Mr. Coggin and thereby doing him bodily harm.

The incident provoked a storm of outrage among teachers across the Island and Government placed security guards in high schools for the first time.

Last August, Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp found the boys not guilty of together unlawfully assaulting Mr. Coggin.

Her decision was later overruled by Puisne Judge Richard Ground who ordered that Mrs. Mapp's decision be set aside on the grounds of a "wrong decision in law''.

And he sent the case back to her with an order that she convict the teens of common assault and sentence them.

Last month Mrs. Mapp sentenced the pair during a closed Juvenile Court session.

The Royal Gazette understands that the older of the two boys was sentenced to corrective training at the Co-Ed Facility while the younger was sent "to an approved society'' which is believed to be a home where he will be closely supervised.

President of the Bermuda Union of Teachers Michael Charles said yesterday: "There's no joy in the fact that they're sentenced. But at least it sends a message that these things will not be condoned.

"But I don't think it (the sentence) should just be punitive. I hope they get the help they need.

"For at least one of them it is not the first time he's been in trouble. But hopefully he will now get the help he needs.'' Speaking generally about security in schools, Mr. Charles said: "Hopefully everything is settling down and schools are going back to what they are for -- to learn.''