Detention (Academia)

Detention in schools is a type of punishment or disciplinary technique often used to correct mild or repetitive misbehaviors. Detention normally takes place after regular school hours in a secluded location or room such as the Library, gymnasium or principal's office. Students in detention usually either stare straight ahead at a wall or do extra schoolwork or homework, and generally lasts between 45 minutes-2 hours. Alternatively, usually for less-severe cases such as tardiness, a "Lunch Detention" may be assigned. For Lunch Detention, students normally get their lunch at the cafeteria or get their own lunch prepared at home, and report to a library or principal's office to serve their sentence. To let a student know they have "detention", they are often given a slip which must be signed by a parent. Sometimes those who get detention will also be grounded by their parents as an extra consequence.

Detention Monitors are often-times assigned to observe the detention and keep track of students. These detention monitors sometimes have the option of "screaming and/or yelling" at guilty students in detention, often in an attempt to keep them out of future trouble. Detention Monitors may also have the responsibility to help students with assignments.