The Berkeley Institute student alleged to have attacked a girl from Warwick Academy at the Hamilton Bus Terminal last week has been charged with assault.

The 14-year-old's mother told The Royal Gazette that her daughter was charged after attending Hamilton Police Station yesterday with lawyer Marc Daniels. She said she was bailed to attend Juvenile Court on March 25.

The incident involving the two girls has sparked debate across the Island on youth behaviour after this newspaper reported on it on Tuesday.

The Berkeley student's mother was quoted yesterday as saying that her daughter hit back in self defence because she was not a "sissy" and that she had been unfairly treated by Police and the school.

"My daughter came home on Thursday and said: 'This girl was hitting on me and the Police came'," said the 42-year-old, from Southampton. "I didn't think anything of it because that was the end of it. Two kids got into a scrap."

Readers e-mailed us yesterday in dismay at the comments. One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, wrote: "Her daughter was involved in an incident in which the Police were called and she 'didn't think anything of it' and did not think to investigate further?

"In addition, she says she has not yet been to the school to discuss the incident. Speaks volumes doesn't it?!"

A concerned parent e-mailed to say: "Here's a daughter that is a mirror image of her mother. From the quotes you have printed, it doesn't take much more than common sense [to see] that the daughter actually thinks lashing out at someone is ok and that 'she won'!!!!"

Donna Foggo said: "I really feel sorry for the mother of the girl alleged to have won the fight. She is in serious denial and I hope she won't live to regret this.

"As a parent, you don't take everything they say as the gospel truth, because kids have a tendency to hide vital facts, even the good kids. The mother really needed to have a heart to heart with her daughter before going public."

Jenna Cleckley wrote: "Mom, when your child is hit, YES she is to DEFEND herself and report it to the school for appropriate action. If it is a life-threatening situation, YES you strike back and again let the school or Police take the appropriate action. Being considered a 'sissy' is in your mind!

"Where one goes wrong is that they feel that one has to take matters into their own hands and this is the result. Go back to the basics — teach the babies how to talk; to express themselves by talking."

The school has declined to comment while the matter is under investigation, as has the mother of the Warwick student, also aged 14.

• Did you see the alleged assault? Call reporter Sam Strangeways on 278-0155 and please provide your name and telephone number if you have to leave a message.