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Detention...Dread?

Samuel Wang ’26 in Features | May 3, 2024

          To many, Saturday night detention sounds dreadful. For others, the night spent chipping away at assignments presents itself as an “inconvenient” study hall as opposed to a true punishment, no longer regarded with the same dread as it once was. 

          To Mohamed Mohamed ’26, detention is “not a big deal.” “I think it could be a good opportunity to get some homework done and get ahead, especially on a Saturday when I might otherwise just be relaxing,” he said. “At the same time, I would feel regretful about having to spend that time studying when I could be doing other things that I enjoy.” While Mohamed doesn’t completely reject nor hold a distasteful attitude towards detention, he still views it as a sacrifice of his free time for additional studying. 

          In the words of Edward Park ’26, detention represents a dedicated block of time—free of distractions—to focus solely on schoolwork. “I like the idea of detention as a forced study session. It allows me to really ‘lock in’ and be productive for two hours, which is something that I usually [am not able to do] when my phone and my friends are around me.” Park also prefers finishing his work ahead of time instead of procrastinating and thus having to sacrifice his sleep later on. 

          Both Mohamed and Park see Saturday detention sessions as merely a forced study hall rather than a heavy disciplinary punishment. They agree that sacrificing two hours for detention to complete work actually frees up time to enjoy with friends, and even catch up on sleep.

          While Mohamed and Park acknowledge the inconvenience and tradeoffs of sacrificing their precious Saturday nights, both recognize how the “setup” of detention allows them to be extra productive in an environment free of typical weekend distractions. 

          Robert Lee ’26 noted that “if [he] were to get a detention, [he knows] that [he] won’t be called to play Brawl Stars or get sidetracked by [his] YouTube feed every 10 minutes.” 

          This alternative view of detention as a routine study hall session rather than punishment is likely influenced by the intense academic pressure and packed schedules Lawrentians face daily. With overwhelmingly full plates of classes, homework, and co-curriculars, students are constantly trying to multitask in hopes of staying on top of assignments and deadlines. In this context, detention provides the perfect distraction-free time to work.

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