There was talk of abolishing approved schools and replacing them with various types of homes and schools under the control of local councils. a glimpse of his underwear over the waist of his jeans. And what a treat we hen we get to see his tight dark grey underwear. Would have been great to have some more photos ( a lot more) of Ryan in his tight underwear.

The master making the allegations at first refused to go to the Home Office because, he said, he feared an inquiry could lead to the dismissal of a headmaster who was merely typical of many others. The Hearing: When the Headmaster of St Andrew's Comprehensive School discovers that four of his upper sixth form girls have been shoplifting, he decides that corporal punishment is called for. All four girls are summoned to his study and sentenced to six strokes of the cane. However, after the first three girls have been disciplined, Corinne Wright, the ringleader of the group, refuses to be caned and walks out of the Headmaster's office, going home completely unpunished. 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. When the present Government took office it published some revolutionary suggestions for changing the juvenile courts and treating young offenders.But there appear to be other establishments which are doing the community a bad turn. The Home Office should make a very searching inquiry into the whole system. He says that "far worse" beatings have been inflicted, by both present and previous headmasters and their deputies. 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.

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. His objection is to the flogging of "maladjusted, emotionally disturbed boys, usually from poor or broken homes or without parents." He changed his mind after talking things over with his wife and decided "the interests of the boys must come first."According to a remand home report the situation between the boy and his mother's employer is "apparently so explosive that it was deemed necessary to remove him at the first opportunity." A social worker described this man as "a very difficult customer."

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." The investigation will almost certainly be conducted by someone outside the Home Office, probably a leading lawyer. A psychiatrist advised that he was a "disturbed boy, likely to deteriorate in his present home." He suggested that the boy should be placed in a children's home, but there was no vacancy so he was sent to the approved school instead.

Nowadays, the cane has been liberated from the classroom and finds a more welcoming reception in bedrooms across the land and indeed, the globe. Here it is truly at home. No longer limited to the traditional six of the best, a true enthusiast can endure dozens of strokes, with practice. A good-natured, friendly and mischievous youngster. Though one of the quieter members of the group his good-humoured sense of fun tended to get him into trouble for 'impertinence,' but he has not been a disciplinary problem. He responded easily to friendly interest and encouragement." One such staff member, the junior coach, Mr flint (Ryan Conway) had got himself in to trouble and was reporting to the Heads study to explain himself. There seemed little room for manoeuvre and soon he found himself bending over to take punishment like any sixth former he too might have had to deal with!

A Home Office statement said the inquiry will investigate "allegations that irregular and excessive punishment has been administered at Court Lees Approved School, South Godstone." 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. The master who took the photographs claimed that beatings there had contravened approved school regulations. 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."

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.