By Bermuda is paying the price for neglecting students who came through a selective school system.

Sandys Secondary principal Melvyn Bassett told those attending a forum on education in the 21st century -- held by Phi Delta Kappa at Elliott Primary School on the weekend -- that the Island had lost a generation of "bright, capable people who are sitting on walls or are in prison'' because Bermuda "neglected to invest in their lives''.

"We're seeing children of parents who were neglected,'' the former president of the Association of School Principals pointed out. "Only now are we beginning to understand the effects of selectivity.'' And Mr. Bassett warned that unless the Island's educators and leaders changed course, not only would more "bright young people'' be lost, but so would the Island's prosperity.

"Half of the community have realised the correlation between investing in our children and having a prosperous community,'' he said. "But I don't think some of our leaders recognise this.

"The part of the community that should know better is the part of the community that has divorced themselves from public education.'' Private education is more alive than it has ever been, he stressed.

"But if the community thinks it can divorce itself from masses of children and develop privately over here, then it is fooling itself,'' he added.

"If they think that private schools can save them from the riots and other turmoil that people who feel they have no vested interest in this country will cause, then we're in trouble.'' Mr. Bassett noted that due to the size of the community no one was immune to the effects of such turmoil.

He predicted that the Island's "multi-billion-dollar'' industries -- tourism and international business -- would leave in a heartbeat, if social and political turmoil escalated.

"They don't love Bermuda because it's the best place on earth,'' he said.

"They love it for economic reasons.'' Mr. Bassett also pointed out that because of the size of the community Bermudians could not afford to "sit on the sidelines waiting to see what happens'' with education reform.

"Because if this does not work,'' he said, "it is the end of prosperity for all of us.'' But first, Mr. Bassett said, the country needed to know where it was going.

Recalling he recently met with educators from Brunei at an overseas gathering, he noted: "Educators there were operating on a mission that had a national plan. They knew where they were going because the country knew where it was going.

"I am convinced that we are confused about the education plan because the country does not know where we're going.'' Mr. Bassett speculated that if school children, parents, teachers, principals and even the Premier were asked about the purpose of Bermuda's education system, there would be 30 different answers.

"We're in a hell of a mess,'' he said.

However, Mr. Bassett noted the country was undertaking the "most ambitious education scheme'' and he said restructuring was the "window of opportunity'' to turn Bermuda around.

"I don't believe it will be a panacea,'' he added. "But I do believe the restructuring is the best opportunity to address some of the problems.'' Lost generation From Page 1 Admitting that educators had to take the lead in education reform, Mr. Bassett said: "We're going to set the tone for this country. Political leaders don't have a clue and parents are not sure. We must assure them that it must work.

And what will determine that is our attitude and commitment.'' Mr. Bassett also stressed that he was convinced that principal Ernest Payette's vision for CedarBridge Academy could materialise, and the programmes, teaching materials, and facilities planned for middle schools will rejuvenate teachers and "turn children on''.

"If we do it right,'' he said, "20 years down the road, we will say we are able to enjoy the level of prosperity we envisioned.'' EDUCATION ED