Caned by the Headmaster!

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Great minds definitely think alike when it comes to the discipline of those cheeky young Stinglads, Ethan!

The master who took the photographs was the author of a letter, published in the Daily Mail in March, which fiercely criticised the way approved schools are run. A psychologist described him as "dispirited, a bit 'damped down' and quiet ... now and then he can give you a cheery smile and be quite friendly ... timid ... dislikes the fights at his school." This book contains the following three fictional stories depicting the corporal punishment of sixth form He took the pictures because he was increasingly concerned at the severity with which "maladjusted and emotionally disturbed boys" were beaten. There are 123 approved schools in Britain, most of them run by voluntary bodies. Many are astonishingly successful, happy places. Among the headmasters and mistresses are numbers of skilful, dedicated people who show continual patience in spite of perpetual disappointments.Many of the young people these approved schools were intended to help are now dealt with in other ways -- through the probation service, attendance centres or detention centres.

The investigation will almost certainly be conducted by someone outside the Home Office, probably a leading lawyer. CASE No. 1: The worst caning, for smoking. The boy, aged 14, has an IQ of 73, a "very dull level" appropriate to a child of seven. When the rest of the class had gone, she took me into the small science prep room, and said that she had intended to send me to the headmaster to be caned, but had decided to punish me herself. I was very relieved at first, because although I had never been caned, I knew boys who had and I knew that it would be awful. When the present Government took office it published some revolutionary suggestions for changing the juvenile courts and treating young offenders. From his secondary school report: "Sulky, mischievous, selfish -- a thorough nuisance -- bully ... stole bicycle from school shed -- gambles -- threatened small boys for money. Disobedient -- responds only to firmest discipline -- resents correction. Utterly lazy ... our very worst boy."The master's view of corporal punishment is that, though he disapproves generally, it "does no harm in many cases, particularly in ordinary schools, where the boy is normal and healthy." Many of them are violent. About 20 p.c. of them have never yet committed an offence but are merely beyond parental control. Offered the choice of corporal punishment or expulsion, her parents refuse to cooperate, and eventually an independent hearing is arranged to resolve the matter. As the hearing progresses it looks at first as if Corinne has won but the presiding magistrate's decision is not in her favour: if she doesn't want to be expelled she must accept the caning. There's even worse news for Corinne, though, when he adds four strokes of the tawse to her punishment. CASE No. 3: Age 15, father deserted home 12 years ago, mother now housekeeper to another man. Intelligence "high average" (IQ 115).

He changed his mind after talking things over with his wife and decided "the interests of the boys must come first." The official studied colour slides taken by the master of injuries suffered by the boys, three of whom are aged 14 and the other 15. Withheld Four out of five doctors to whom the photographs were shown consider the caning, in at least one case, was too harsh and exceeded the maximum punishment permitted by Home Office regulations. His reason is that such an inquiry could simply result in the dismissal of one headmaster who is typical of many others. What is needed, he believes, is a full investigation into the whole approved-school system.There is now disturbing evidence of harsh beatings at an approved school. It consists of photographs of four boys taken soon after they were caned by their headmaster. IT IS not use of the cane we are quarrelling with, but examples of inexcusable brutality. The kind of place where this sort of thing is normal will make criminals rather than cure them.