Bermudian men are invited to learn how they can play a greater role in the lives of their children -- and end cycles of abuse, neglect, and violence caused by a lack of male role models.

The Ministry of Youth and Sport yesterday introduced Clay Dix, a US professor who will be speaking tonight at the Sonesta Beach Hotel from 7 until 9.

Mr. Dix has studied the impact over the last generation of men playing less significant roles in parenting.

"I'd like to encourage men to come and gain some insight into how large a role we can act in our children's lives,'' Mr. Dix said. "We will explore and find techniques to reconnect with our children regardless of where they are.'' "Given the nature of blended families prominent now,'' he added. "Many men will have to provide for foster, step, and non-blood related children -- not to mention surrogate children.'' Mr. Dix added: "Tell them to come and get the word. Not just those with biological children will benefit from this.'' Mr. Dix is also set to lead three days of In-Service Workshops within the Ministry.

The In-Service Workshops include the Ministry's after-school and community centre directors, from the Sandys, Angle Street, and St. George's centres.

Ministry spokesperson Keith Smith said of Mr. Dix's visit: "We see a problem with a lack of fathers' roles in their children's lives. But we also see the concerns of the fathers about being only a giver and provider but not nurturer for their children,'' he added. "There are quite a few men who want to be more active in their children's lives.'' Mr. Dix is a longtime social worker turned lecturer at Arizona State University West and has served on the US National Council on Alcoholism and the Judicial Council of the Arizona State Supreme Court.

He has outlined five ways through which men have been distanced from their children including hostile relationships with the mothers of their children, a need to "get themselves together'', finding that their children are "too busy'', and geographical barriers.

"Fatherhood is something that has to be taught,'' Mr. Dix said. "This is for fathers of all origins. We operate from the premise that men were not needed for child rearing and there was a feeling of "who needs them''.

"There was a change in the economy as well, from a production to service which also changed the role of men in society in addition to the liberation of women.'' Mr. Dix said the meetings were not for men to "complain about that'', but to get to the heart of statistical and anecdotal evidence showing that many of the world's social ills come from a diminished role for men in child rearing.

Some of the ways men can regain a place in their children's lives are through reconciliation with and among the women in their lives, taking part in the organisation of activities in schools and extra-curricular events, and using technology -- like the Internet -- to keep in contact.

Clay Dix GOVERNMENT GVT