ALLEGED CRUEL TREATMENT AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

The correspondence which has passed between the City Schools Committee, Mr Brabazon, and Mrs Hicks relative to alleged cruel treatment of a little girl at Nelson-street School, was read and considered at the meeting of Committee last evening. The first letter complained : —"I kept my daughter Jane from school to look after tho youngest while I did the washing. On the following day I sent a note with her explaining the reason of her absence, but notwithstanding that, Mr Brabazon caned her severely, and she came home with her hand blue and swollen through tlie beating he gave her. I went to speak to him about it, and he gave me insolence, and said ho would beat her every time she was kept home. I have a large family, and am compelled to keep her home on washingday, and I think it very hard that she should be caned for it." This was sent to Mr Brabazon requesting an explanation, and he wrote stating: "The excjse was brought two days successively, although she, with others, was warned not to bring them." (Mr Brabazon then went on to remark that children "magnified molehills into mountains," and so one or two slight slaps must not be deemed cruol). The girl Hicks was absent nearly half her time. Respecting Mrs Hicks herself, I remember being called out of one of the infant rooms, where something occurred to annoy me. If I spoke hastily or angrily to her I acknowledge my error, and certainly must, on reflection, feel sorry for it." This letter was forwarded to Mrs Hicks, who responded:—"l do not think it was so often as Mr Brabazon says, but I never kept her at home only when I was compelled to do so. As to the ' slight slaps on each hand,' that is not true, for she came home in the playtime with her hand swollen and blue, which I consider was cruel." Members of Committee generally spoko very strongly about the caning of girls, especially in the case under notice. Mr Hannan said he could state for a fact that the girl appeared to be very much frightened at Mr Brabazon. When in the school, he noticed that Mr Brabazon appeared very irritable and bad-tempered. The mother of the child had informed him that she would not let her child go to the school again that she might be subjected to cruel treatment. The fact that Mr Brabazon had been out of temper with a lady showed that he might not have been in a condition to cane a little girl.—Mr Crowther quoted from the " Instructions for the Guidance' of Teachers," to the effect that in the case of late arrivals " a mark should be placed apainst the names of offenders, and they should be punished." Ho further quoted " All hasty infliction of corporal punishment should be avoided." It was ultimately agreed to draw Mr Brabazon's attention to the Board's " Instructions for the Guidance ef Teachers, "and pointing out clauses where it was stated " That children should not be unnecessarily punished." It was also moved by Mr Hannan, seconded by Mr Crowther, and carried, "That, in reply to Mrs Hicks, she be informed that the Committee are making inquiries, and will take Bteps to prevent children being unnecessarily punished." Mr Carr gave notice of hie intention to move at the next meeting, " The Committee thinks it is unseemly for a male teacher to beat girls, and that such an action is calculated to brutalise the boyish mind towards the other sex by familiarising them with beating in early age, and wo ask the Board to consider the advisability of framing a rngulation to provide seme better discipline than beating."