By Joey Huang ‘28 and Nathan Zhou ‘29
Every school needs rules. Without them, the classroom would become noisy, deadlines would be ignored, and learning would be impeded. Sunday detention was initially introduced to keep these rules in place, and many teachers view it as a strong, meaningful message to students who do not follow the rules. Via Sunday detention, students may have time to reflect on their actions, finish their homework, and experience the consequences for violating the rules. In theory, this does indeed sound fair!
Yet from a student’s perspective, Sunday detention feels more like a punishment than an opportunity for self-reflection. Sunday is often the only day students can truly relax after a long stretch of homework, athletic activities, classes, and tests. Especially for IV, V, and VI formers, students are sometimes overwhelmed by excessive coursework and stressed out due to their preparation for college applications. Losing a Sunday morning to detention is not just a lesson or a punishment anymore; it acts as a burden, adding more stress and leaving students with little time to rest or recover before the week begins.
What makes it worse is how easily students can end up in detention. Imagine staying up until midnight fighting through your homework only for your alarm to fail the next morning. Even if it happens just once, you will be drafted to the “St. Mark’s Detention League”. Under the current rules, that tiny slip could cost you your entire Sunday. Instead of encouraging responsibility, this rather creates anxiety over accidents that are beyond our control.
Sunday detention can also have a negative impact on students’ lives in other ways. Missing out on a day of rest after a demanding school week may further contribute to stress, anxiety, and even mental health challenges. Taking that away can increase burnout and lower overall performance in the following week. Furthermore, sitting silently in a classroom does not guarantee that students actually reflect on their behavior, with many just counting down the minutes instead of learning from the experience. Moreover, Sunday detention treats a forgotten alarm the same as repeated misbehavior. It ignores context and effort, making discipline feel mechanical and unfair.
After speaking with the Dean of Students, Dr. Fish, he stated that the school is actively listening to students’ feedback and working to make changes that benefit them the most. He said, “I love it when students express disagreement with any rules they think should be improved. A healthy school environment is one where students have different, constructive opinions that can help make the school a better place, and the school should genuinely consider any student’s opinion, no matter who.”
Losing a sleep-in on a Sunday morning certainly is not fun. Having a Sunday detention scheduled stresses the mood going into the weekend, and the dean's office is well aware of that. However, showing up to school and being present is a responsibility that comes with being part of the community. Skipping a commitment not only undermines the sense of belonging but also hinders academic growth.
Last year, without this detention policy, attendance at chapel and school meetings was miserable. With no consequences for skipping, many students simply chose not to attend. These gatherings, however, are vital—they bring the school together and foster a stronger sense of community. Furthermore, the “bandwagon effect” sets in: once a few students start skipping, others will follow. Sunday detention is designed to break this cycle and encourage students to take every school commitment seriously.
“When a student violates the community standard, there needs to be a consequence that is both effective and immediate in order for them not to violate the rule again,” explains Dr. Fish, the Dean of Students. An immediate consequence in the same week is thus necessary for a change in behavior. And ever since the Sunday detention policy has been implemented, there has been a notable rise in attendance at assemblies and chapel. Now, the school community comes together to sing, reflect, and pray for one another.
In the long run, Sunday detention teaches responsibility and reinforces the idea that education should come first. Knowing that skipping class will cost part of their weekend, students may think twice before making that choice. Rather than serving as a punishment, this policy emphasizes the importance of being present in school programming.