Ten-year-old Shannon Davis was keen to get to work in her new role of Mayor of ?Wonderland? ? an adult society run by children ? despite only being elected that morning.

Miss Davis beat out Deputy Mayor Nelson Botello by picking up 58 votes to lead Wonderland ? a miniature Bermuda where real life experiences, instruction and community involvement count ? in a hot contest.

?Wonderland is good because we will learn how to do jobs and learn when we get older we need jobs,? Miss Davis said. ?We will have a court to learn how to be responsible and stuff.?

Students practice being politicians, judges, businessmen and consumers to prepare for adulthood.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield told students at a groundbreaking ceremony at Purvis Primary last Thursday that she was glad Wonderland would have a farm.

?It is important to know where food comes from,? Mrs. Butterfield said. ?And not waste your vegetables when you get them.?

Mrs. Butterfield also hinted that Purvis? community farm could make it the first school to receive $10,000 ? in addition to $20,000 already given by her Ministry in 2004 ? through a Environmental Grant Scheme.

Permanent Secretary of Education Rosemary Tyrrell said students should use Wonderland to learn that all jobs are important.

?Young people need to learn that honest labour is never degrading, it holds a high place in our society. Idleness and looking to others for help rather than helping yourself is degrading,? Ms Tyrrell said.

Ms Tyrrell said every job is important.

?Students need to be taught that in the real world, life means earnest work, responsibility and care taking,? she said.

The Construction Association of Bermuda provided materials, training and development to the project and BCM McAlpine President Alan Burland said Purvis? expeditionary learning system is a role model for the rest of Bermuda.

?It is the very best form of education because students are learning in three-dimensions,? Mr. Burland said. ?This is not just chalk and talk.?

He said he hopes to see other Wonderland models taking shape in Middle Schools in the future.

Jeffrey Sousa of Sousa?s Landscaping would supply agricultural beds for the students to learn how to plant seeds and garden, he said.

A wet meadow, planting beds, a paddock for visiting horses and two small buildings ? one for tool storage, and another as an outdoor classroom with rabbits and chickens inside ? can be constructed as Planning permission was granted in 2004.

The school hopes to finish Wonderland by April ? to coincide with its 60th anniversary.