SEVERAL SPEAKERS PRESENT THEIR OPINIONS ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, STRESSING THE FACT THAT MANY CASES OF ABUSE GO UNREPORTED. APPROXIMATELY 2,000 CHILDREN DIE ANNUALLY AS A RESULT OF ABUSE. A STUDY IS CITED IN WHICH PARENTS WERE INTERVIEWED CONCERNING WHAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN. OTHER DATA SHOW THAT MOTHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN THAN FATHERS, SONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HIT THAN DAUGHTERS, AND THAT VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY IS A VERY COMMON PHENOMENON IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. BATTERED CHILDREN MAY BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY SCARRED BY THEIR EXPERIENCES, TENDING TO BECOME ABUSIVE PARENTS THEMSELVES. THEY MAY RECEIVE BRAIN INJURIES WHICH AFFECT THEIR LANGUAGE ABILITIES AND THEIR INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENTS (IQ). MANY PARENTS WHO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF RAISING CHILDREN CANNOT FIND ANY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITIES ARE URGED TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN CHILD-REARING PRACTICES AND TO PROVIDE FAMILY HELPERS TO ASSIST BUSY MOTHERS. IN ALL CASES, ORGANIZATIONS AND COURTS ARE REMINDED THAT THE TRUE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD. VIOLENCE BY CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS IS CONSIDERED, INCLUDING ASSAULTS ON TEACHERS AND OTHER STUDENTS, AND CASES OF VANDALISM. TEACHERS MUST BE TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE WHEN A CHILD IS HAVING PROBLEMS AND TO DETERMINE THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. SCHOOLS SHOULD GIVE STUDENTS MORE RESPONSIBILITY. IF THE TEACHER IS ABLE TO DEVELOP A RAPPORT WITH STUDENTS, THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE WILL HELP THEM DEAL WITH EVERYDAY PROBLEMS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TEACHERS SHOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENT WORK AND STRIVE TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. (BAC)