Loose Lips at Detention Slip

Sleazy? The Drudge Report of the education blogoshere? Giving public education a bad rap? These are some of the objections leveled against controversial education blog Detention Slip. Focusing on the absurd and salacious, this popular site collects news stories from around the country and provides brief abstracts and snarky commentary. If a bus driver goes berserk or a dress code fiasco is brewing, expect to find a post about it here.

Although much of Detention Slip is light on nuanced analysis, some educators find the hot tips useful. Dangerously Irrelevant's Scott McLeod, for example, uses the referenced news stories in his school law classes, and one of his readers passes out posts in staff meetings. Others, like Justin Bathon at The Edjurist, worry that Detention Slip is more concerned with sensationalism and ad revenue than improving education. Judge for yourself, and let us know what you think.

Comments

[Jack Winger]

Hmm. After exploring the site and reading some of the opinions, I have to say I don't mind it. As a teacher myself, I do agree that it often puts us in some bad light. However, I consider myself a responsible role-model, so I don't plan on making some of the idiotic mistakes some of these teachers have. I think the site offers some witty commentary about some of the problems that our schools have been dealing with recently. I think I am going to add it to my daily reads.

[Pat Calabrese]

There are hundreds of education policy sites I can bore myself with. DetentionSlip is entertaining... it always gives us something to discuss in the teachers lounge at lunch time. What's great, is everyone is reading the site, so all the teachers have something in common to read about.

[Justin B.]

My problem with Detention Slip is that it goes to the lowest common denominator. It's base and vile and crude. Detention Slip reminds me of these kinds of shows: Baywatch, Fear Factor, The Japanese Game Shows, "Destroyed in Seconds" ... those are entertaining, granted, but they are also mind-numbingly ignorant. Those, like Detention Slip, are trainwreck shows. We watch and read because we want to see it all go wrong. Those shows are always going to exist because they will generate some audience (which then will hopefully support their advertisers and thus generate some revenue - don't forget this guy is making money off every click), but just because something exists doesn't mean we have to acknowledge it as educators. Is there not enough rumor and speculation in our own schools that we need to go out and get some trainwreck satisfaction from someone else's school?

[Jason R]

So should we just ignore that this stuff is happening? Surely it will make local news, but maybe the fact that national attention is being brought to some of these stories is a good thing. I personally enjoy the site just for entertainment value, but there are some serious things going wrong in our schools that I think too many people ignore.

[Justin B.]

I get your point Jason, but are you okay with someone making money off of that? Detention Slip benefits if our schools get WORSE, not better. We can choose to use Detention Slip in a positive way, but Detention Slip is not positive in an of itself. That is why in the past I have called it a pariah.

We largely know the problems in our schools. Spending time continuing to point out the problems really doesn't accomplish much. How about actually making an effort to solve those problems? But, that is not what Detention Slip is in for.

[Jason R]

Is anyone making an effort to get rid of crappy shows like Fear Factor? I think we just have to accept that this stuff is out there, and as an audience try to find a way to put our own positive spin on it. Or just don't visit the site...that's always an option.

[Jay]

I've got a sense of humor (and humility), and don't mind crappy t.v.--what I don't like about DS is their knee-jerk analysis. If I was starved for reactive media, I'd just turn on Fox News. If I want the News of the Weird, there are plenty of places to find it other than DS.

[George Peternel]

There's not much there about improving education. Mostly exaggerated or sensationalized stories and an editor trying to be "know-it-all" clever. Detention slip probably doesn't even deserve a detention slip. Another effort from the Geraldo Rivera School of Journalism.

[Pete Miller]

As an educator, it never makes me feel good when I read the content on DetentionSlip, but I can't help myself to check it every day! I'm hooked!

[Patrick Groff]

Detention Slip seems to be an useful way for teachers to reduce some of the emotional wipe-out that they have developed by the end of the school day. If in fact it is therapeutical in that manner
might there be fewer novice teachers who leave the profession?