When you’ve run out of patience with negative or disruptive student behavior, detention might sometimes feel like the only option. But responding to minor offenses with harsh disciplinary action can increase the recurrence of negative behavior and lead to student apathy and defiance, writes Crystal Frommert, a middle school administrator. Further, there’s evidence of racial and ethnic disparities among students assigned to detention. There are alternatives. Restorative practices that build understanding and repair harm aren’t a “quick and easy” fix, Frommert admits, and critics say they let students off “with a slap on the wrist.” But the effort can ultimately pay off as students’ behavior improves over time, and “the community becomes a more positive environment,” she writes. Here are three alternatives to detention: 1️⃣ Reflection: Instead of a detention room, consider creating a reflection room, Frommert says. It’s a space in which teachers, administrators, caregivers, and t...