Spare the Rod

John Saunders arrives to take up a post at Worrell Street School in East London, inheriting a class of last-year pupils with a reputation for trouble. He declares his intention to use non-violent discipline and rejects corporal punishment. The students and staff sense immediate tension as chaos and defiance loom over the term.

Headmaster Jenkins is well-meaning but despondent, resigned to punishing the pupils and maintaining control through fear. The other teachers share a belief that discipline by punishment is the only way to keep order. Saunders’s approach challenges this established mindset from the start.

Saunders sticks to his principles and begins trying alternatives to violence, aiming for calm, respectful classroom management. The class responds with confusion and occasional mockery, expecting provocation. Yet Saunders slowly earns small wins and starts to see glimmers of potential in some students.

Saunders spots promise in Fred Harkness, one of the main trouble-makers, and tries to encourage him to channel his energy into something constructive. He hopes to mentor the boy and unlock his potential beyond street-level rebellion. Harkness remains wary but curious about Saunders's unusual methods.

The first time Saunders uses the cane on pupils involved in misbehavior, it is revealed that Harkness was not at fault; he was trying to prevent a riot by others. The moment exposes a rift between Saunders's intentions and the pupils' perceptions. Saunders offers a handshake and an apology, but Harkness rejects it, severing trust between them.

Harkness refuses Saunders's handshake and apology, and trust between them is broken. The mentor-student bond that could have formed devolves into suspicion and distance. The classroom atmosphere grows more charged as unresolved grievances simmer.

The pupils orchestrate a prank that locks Arthur Gregory in the school toilets overnight. The next morning Gregory seeks revenge on those he believes led the incident. The situation pushes Saunders toward a precarious line between discipline and safety.

Gregory singles out Harkness for punishment, delivering roughly ten strokes of the cane to his left hand, which was twisted behind his back. Saunders has to intervene to restrain Gregory and prevent further injury. The incident underscores how quickly violence can spiral when discipline is enforced by force.

Following the Gregory incident, the entire class erupts into a full-scale riot, throwing furniture and turning on Saunders as they resist his non-violent approach. The staff see the situation as a collapse of the school's strict discipline policy and blame Saunders for undermining it. Saunders confronts the reality that his methods may not be enough to quell the mounting chaos.

With the school on edge and his future at stake, Saunders must decide whether to stay and fight for his principles or leave. The debate pits his ethical stance against the expectations of harsh discipline, and he weighs his professional future against the risk of moral compromise. The moment marks a crucial turning point for his career.

Against the odds, Saunders finally reconnects with Harkness and convinces him that his talent can lead to something better once he leaves school. The exchange gives Harkness hope and validates Saunders's non-violent approach. This moment signals a shift in their relationship and the possibility of change within the system.

As the term ends, Harkness is encouraged to pursue his abilities beyond school, signaling that education can still make a difference. Saunders's resolve is affirmed by this success, even in the face of continuing challenges. The film ends on a note of cautious optimism about the power of mentoring and constructive discipline.