James Sinclair wakes one morning in a different, parallel universe to the one he is accustomed to. He finds he is still a teacher at a college but in a world where students want to learn and where all infringement of the rules is met with stern discipline.
James delights in learning more about this world where habitual criminals are made into slaves, denuded of hair and kept nude for the rest of their lives. They work on chain gangs and are set to other back breaking tasks.
The occupants of this world teach James all he needs to know about changing the mind set of perpetual backsliders and criminals, so that when he is returned his own world after one mind blowing year, he is ready and willing to help in the reforms which are getting under way!