This whole trend of getting a 'timeout' is really kind of silly without something more forceful to back it up. I used to like to take apart the appliances when I was that age - I would have used a timeout to think about how to get to the next one.
My teachers were never allowed to hit us, but a detention or a call home would more than likely result in some of that good ol'-fashioned physical abuse at home.
Parents really need to stop thinking that their kid is the exception to every rule.
Steve