OUR YOUTHS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5610, 22 March 1879, Page 3

OUR YOUTHS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. ■ Sib, —I notice in to-night’s issue of the Post a paragraph recounting an accident which befel a little girl in Cuba-street on Tuesday last, the cause of which was thatwhen returning home from school some boys “frightened them, and when they ran away chased them.” In a case like the present the little girl suffers perhaps some permanent injury ; and the boys—how do they come off ? It is not likely they will tell of one another, being all in the same boat; and the chances are greatly in favor of their never being found out ; but if they are, a gentle reprimand from their parents is all they are subjected to. But suppose the parent of any child catches catch any of the young rascals “ in the act ” in a case of this sort, and gives him what he deserves—a good sound thrashing—in all probability he has to go to Court on a charge of “ brutally ill-treating a child,” aad comes out of it mulcted in a penalty, with “ brute ” tacked on to his skirts, From my own experience I should say it is hot safe to allow any little girl outside the house anywhere within a radius of a quarter of a mile of Te Aro free school when the boys are out at play. (?) My own children have been sent on errands in some of these unfortunate times, and have returned home crying, robbed of what they have been to purchase, and in some instances even of the money given them with which to make the purchases. These things should not be. Secular education may suit the taste of New Zealanders generally, but it certainly does not improve their morals. If anyone doubts it let him go and live for a few days in the neighborhood of the Te Aro free school, and he will hear out of the mouths of veritable “ babes and sucklings” such a fluency of language as would shame even the very lowest dregs of London depravity ; and the reason is obvious. Theyjknow no better, because they are taught no better. I hope you will find room in your valuable paper for the above, and must apologise for its length.—l am, &c., Growler, March 20.