Could a teacher at my school who wanted to strap a child have manufactured a reason to do it? Possibly, although I think it would have been very difficult because others would have stepped him to stop him doing so. (Dean)
Why would others step in? I would suspect just the opposite. CP was valued, approved, practiced and defended. I cannot imagine that one Master would have too much to say about what another Master did if they wanted to strap a child.
While I was at the school, one member of staff was told to stop using the strap simply because some people thought it was no longer appropriate for a non-teacher to have that power. If any teacher had been considered to be abusing their power in any way, shape or form, I am certain the same thing would have happened. (Dean)
I would tend to find that highly speculative in favor of your school. This is certainly as I would expect your response to be. But I think beating children with straps in and of itself is an abuse of power.