Detention

:This article deals with the practice of "detention" as a punishment for students. For information on Immigration detention, please see the article under that name.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In middle school and high school, detention very specifically refers to a period after the end of the school day (or sometimes, before the school day) when students who have misbehaved must remain in a designated classroom for a certain time period as punishment for their misbehavior. Usually, the infraction is relatively minor, and includes such offenses as talking in class out of turn or repeated tardiness.

Related Topics:
Middle school - High school - Classroom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Generally, detention is carried out in a room that offers no amenities, so that students serving detention will have no outlet to distract them from their punishment. The students are usually monitored by a teacher, and may be required to either bring homework, sit quietly or perform some punitive task (e.g., clapping blackboard erasers, writing an essay, or repeatedly writing some admonishment on the blackboard).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Detentions are also used at the elementary school level, which often is a period after the end of the school day, or partial or complete loss of recess privileges. The format is otherwise similar to middle and high school detentions.

Related Topics:
Elementary school - Recess - Middle - High school

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some schools have "Saturday suspensions," which is essentially a detention served on a Saturday at a designated site (usually, a school classroom). Usually, schools have policies which outline when a student is given such a punishment, but the format is essentially similar to a traditional detention.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Detention is usually the mildest form of punishment available to administrators, followed in severity by suspension and expulsion. Concerns have been raised about the fact that detentions are generally given without the order of a court, and are quite often given by the alleged victim. Appeals procedures are questionable, and in the UK cannot overturn a detention before it has been served. They are considered by many to be incompatible with the right to freedom of movement, the right to due procees and fair trial. and the right to freedom from discrimination.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~