I think that the main reason for this to be around in 2008 is that it is an too easy solution:
1) It is too easy for the student. They need to face the problem that caused them to break the rule. By taking licks instead of be given assignments or chores at the school campus, they are not given time to deal with their problem.
2) It is too easy for the school administration. Of course no school wants to expell students. They are properly paid by the number of students. They dont have money to supervise all the classes in the afternoon if they use detention.
We need to rethink this area because school is about to prepare the students for society. What happens if an adult breaks the rules? Answer: He has to appear before a court.
So the solution is to use "Peer courts": Everytime a student break a rule, he is given a slip. He can appoint two friends as lawyers or be given some. Then a hearing will be held and the indicent will be discussed and if proven guilty a consequence will follow. In my country we believe in involving parents, so a couple of parents could supervise the process, but the consequence have to be given by a group of peers.
Among the consenquces is of course an apology to teacher, parents followed by a manuel task on school campus. (All school have some things they have have time for like sweeping the school yard or do some gardening on campus.)
Then of course we will remain with a small fraction of students, who wants to get it over with. You can drag a horse to the water, but you cannot get it to drink. Here a punishment system from Peninsula Village could be used in a modified form.
120 pushup, 120 leg Tuck-Up, 120 leg lift and 120 Burpees done as a pyramide exercise with a timelimit of 90 minutes with parents as observants (15 / 55 each with a timelimit of 60 minutes for smaller children).
There is no need to teach children violence. The world is bad enough already.
