The side effects of the educational process, both in its formal and informal structures, are often more important to the child's future th'an the intended effect. This paper examines one of the side effects, the relative preferences a school leaver has for different places familiar to him. Using the methodologies of the geographer, the "mental maps" identified are related to the problem of rural depopulation. The implications for the educational system are assessed.

The month of May 1986 was a turning point for the Caribbean territoriesof Saint Maarten and Saba, two of the island territories of the Netherlands Antilles. Both territories signed protocols with the federal government to implement English as the language of instruction throughout the school system of the two islands, in place of Dutch. These moves are part of the process of language reform in the Netherlands Antilles.