Should schools teach self defense?

[Antoninus]

Should schools offer self defense classes as part of thier required or optional cirriculum?

[Djiril]

Sounds like a good idea. Do you mean K-12 schools?

[Antoninus]

Sounds like a good idea. Do you mean K-12 schools?
Yeah, they would start young, maybe first grade with very very basic stuff and work thier way up untill graduation at 12th grade.

[Queenorivers]

well, there are two points to this.
1. People might fight in the playground
2. Not only will victims learn it, bullies will too and in future generations everyone will know it

[Jenne]

Let's not forget the martial arts are, when all is said and done, a means to teaching respect, discipline and self-confidence. ABOVE the targeted kicks and hits.

It's the best thing we ever did for my 7 year old--put him in karate. It has taught him coordination, groupthink, and respect for those who are older and more experienced than he is.

As for a school program, I can see it as intramural like football/basketball/baseball. Or during PE in jr. hi and high school--like a unit in the curriculum that the instructor teaches the class, some basic moves and the history and whatnot.

As for kids using it on the playground and putting the moves into the hands of the "wrong kids," (are we all thinking "Karate Kid" here or what?) if it's taught well, that won't happen.

The litany of words my son says with his class and his sensai after the end of each session is:

Respect Others
Refrain from violent behavior
Endeavor

[Djiril]

well, there are two points to this.
1. People might fight in the playground
2. Not only will victims learn it, bullies will too and in future generations everyone will know it
That is a concern, but not all self-defense is physical or violent and neither is all bullying. In the younger grades, I doubt there would be too much focus of the physical stuff anyway.

Physical "bullies" also tend to be the ones who know this stuff in the first place. Teaching everyone self-defense might al least level out the field a bit.

[CosmicWhispers]

Should schools offer self defense classes as part of thier required or optional cirriculum?

I think it would be great as an optional curriculum. If anything for the disicipline
and respect they learn. Unfortunately, in the post Columbine school systems,
it will never be considered.

[fahawk]

I can see both thougths on this..
but martial arts are about self-control, self-defense- not about bullying..
I took my young teen daughter to a self-defense class...
there are too many risky " situations" and "people" in the world, and I want her to have some knowledge of how to protect herself.

[Antoninus]

To adress the concerns that the bully's can use it as well, it would act as a deterrent. A bully wont pick on someone who he doesnt know what they can do. If a bully has doubts about his intended target's physical abilities, he wont risk the humiliation of having his target whoop him.

So I think giving kids some self defense training would keep bullies away from what they do because bullies generally go after people who they KNOW wont lash out or challenge them.

[Djiril]

To adress the concerns that the bully's can use it as well, it would act as a deterrent. A bully wont pick on someone who he doesnt know what they can do. If a bully has doubts about his intended target's physical abilities, he wont risk the humiliation of having his target whoop him.

So I think giving kids some self defense training would keep bullies away from what they do because bullies generally go after people who they KNOW wont lash out or challenge them.
On the other hand, if everyone is in the same class the bullies will know exactly what everyone's abilities are.

[Darkdale]

Should schools offer self defense classes as part of thier required or optional cirriculum?

Yes, that sounds like a fantastic idea. But it should be optional. You can't force a pacifist to take care of themselves.

[Ceres]

I think it would be a good thing to introduce a sport that isnt about competition, but is based on personal performance and self control. I would rather see Karate than some of the other sports already played.

[Rhianna813]

Actually I remember back when I was junior high..... in like 1981 (sheesh) my school offered self defense as a PE class. It was packed with girls! I think it's a great idea :-)

Rhianna

[Greybird]

Kids will fight in the playground regardless, and the secret about bullies is that they don't pick on people they know they can beat - they pick on people they know won't fight back. The discipline and respect from the classes would reduce bullying, and the self confidence and ability would reduce victims.