(_e_) Many teachers maltreat their pupils. They are seldom prosecuted on this account, for many children are unfortunately accustomed to the same sort of ill-treatment at home; moreover, the parents may regard the teacher’s treatment as perfectly natural, or may be afraid to institute proceedings against him. (_f_) Ill-treatment of children by foster-parents is comparatively common, owing to the fact that in this case the inhibiting influence of the natural love for the offspring is lacking. The consequences of maltreatment are extremely serious to the health of the child, alike physically, mentally, and morally. The child becomes naughty, lazy, and untruthful, and this results in yet more maltreatment. The child’s affection and confidence are destroyed, not only towards the person who ill-treats it, but towards others as well; feelings of hatred towards the whole of society and desire for revenge may even be aroused. Such a child will in turn maltreat other children; its will-power is defective and its ambition is destroyed. Actual disease, physical or mental, often ensues. Many children run away from home as a result of ill-treatment, become vagabonds, and even commit suicide. The increase recently noted in the number of suicides is probably, in part, dependent upon the more frequent ill-treatment of children during the same period. The usual motive for suicide where children are concerned is seldom anything else than the fear of ill-treatment. (Dread of parents, of school, of punishment at school, of examination, &c.) Most of the cases of the maltreatment of children take place among the lower classes of the population. This is clearly proved by statistical data, which show that more than 90 per cent. of those convicted of maltreating children belong to the lowest strata of the population. (_a_) Among the lower classes, the rôle of the child is a very different one from what it is among the upper classes. It often makes its appearance, not as the greatly-desired heir, the inheritor of an honoured name, or of considerable property, but merely as an additional mouth, whose presence forces the parents to lower yet further their already low standard of life, and entails upon them numerous other inconveniences. (_b_) The lower classes are less cultivated, rougher, more passionate, less gentle, than the upper. They work all day, and we need not be surprised if they become rough and disagreeable. The proletarian parent has not received a proper education. (_c_) Far more commonly they are slaves to alcohol. (_d_) They are subordinated to everyone. The only persons to whom they can display power and superiority are their own immediate dependants. (_e_) They come into far more intimate contact with their children, and are not in a position to hand over the upbringing of their children to salaried persons. In this connection we have to remember that the presence of strangers in the house tends to put a check upon maltreatment.