teachers need all the help they can get.

That was a point generated by a host of Government-sponsored workshops held across the Island last week to help local educators improve their teaching skills.

All Government school principals and teachers were invited to attend the workshops.

One workshop, held at the National Trust headquarters in Paget and run by St.

George's Secondary School principal Mr. Dale Butler, was an example of the effort to foster curriculum innovation. Mr. Butler's topic was "Active Learning Using Local Resources''.

"If you don't provide students with a little bit of variety you will have a problem with boredom and frustration in the classroom,'' he told those attending.

Aimed at history, civics and social science teachers, the main theme was stimulating students using a variety of methods and making them aware of their local heritage.

The teachers at Mr. Butler's workshop agreed that it was getting harder to motivate students.

"We're competing with television, sex and drugs,'' said Ms Gina Davis, a civics teacher at Whitney Institute. "Children want to be entertained.'' The workshop "gave me the opportunity to learn different ways to present civics.'' Cedar Grove teacher Mrs. Suzanne Smith said: "It's been a very interesting and stimulating day. I'm more aware of the available resources.'' Added Mr. Butler: "It's an opportunity to find out our strengths and weaknesses. We can discuss common problems and find solutions.''