Detention in School Actually Serves a Higher Purpose

I welcome my opponent to Debate.org and thank her for presenting this topic for discussion. I will take the Pro position, but some portion of the burden falls on the instigator; she can present a purely negative case if she wishes. Clarifications: The instigator did not posit the position or resolution addressing the effectiveness of any type of school punishment, as such, effectiveness of different types of punishment are outside the scope of this debate. All punishments addressed will focus on an "educational setting", not effectiveness for any other goal. Terms: Detention: My opponent offered detention in respect to education so we need not concern ourselves with incarceration or detention is respect to violating criminal laws. Con appears to present detention as in school detention i.e. staying after school or coming in on Saturday as a form of punishment for some non legal infraction of school rules. http://dictionary.reference.com... (see World English Dictionary definition 3) I singled out aspects of the definition to serve the instigator's mention of an educational setting. Higher purpose: My opponent did not define this phrase for the debate, but detention is a punishment so we can guess that "higher purpose" means something more than just punishment. I must show that after school detention serves some purpose other than "just" punishment and that this purpose is "higher" than punishment. I will do so. I see no need to use "higher purpose" in respect to a deity. PRO: After hours detention serves the higher purpose of continuing education in a controlled environment as opposed to other forms of punishment that add nothing to academic progress. Forms of Punishment: Corporal Punishment: Typically corporal punishment is administered in the form of paddling, push ups, running laps, etc. Physical exertion or pain is the motivating factor used to discourage a student from repeating behavior. The effectiveness, or lack thereof, is not the topic of this debate but I challenge Con to produce one personal academic benefit to beating a child. No one learned chemistry by being on the receiving end a weapon. http://dictionary.reference.com... Removal: Disruptive behavior can be remedied by removing a student from others and having this student sit in an isolated location so as to alienate the child and prevent her from bothering others. The child receives no guidance and is meant to be an example for others. Removing a child from the chemistry teacher and her materials does nothing to further her education. Ridicule: Placing a student in front of the class with a hat that says "creationist" or "dunce" may serve to embarrass the student, but does nothing to further the goal of academic progress. The student may also be forced to "put her nose in a corner" and this method of punishment only makes the child a spectacle. Wearing hats and placing our faces against a brick wall does not help us learn the eight parts of speech. DETENTION: This form of punishment forces the student to attend school after hours and the detention area is monitored by a teacher or principal and the student is not permitted to sit idle. The student must, unless matters have changed significantly, bring study materials and is not allowed to speak or interact with others while in this detention period. Unlike other punishments, this method forces the student to do some form of homework or complete the work she should have been doing earlier in the week that was put off due to misbehavior. In respect to furthering academics, no other punishment serves the purpose of actual school work than detention. Conclusion: Because detention, unlike other punishments, forces the student into a learning environment focused on some type of work associated with secondary education (writing lines, studying, typing, writing a report about why she is in detention, etc.) then the punishment satisfies the purpose of academic learning and is; therefore, serving a higher purpose than just mere punishment. Because this higher purpose, continuing education, is served, the resolution is upheld. Very Truly Yours, SherlockMethod