Should self-defense be a required part of the curriculum?
- Thread starter Machjo
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Social studies defined: "Social studies is the integrated
study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence."
Social studies parameters: "Within the school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences." http://www.learner.org/workshops/socialstudies/pdf/session8/8.WhatIsSocialStudies.pdf
Yeah. That's definitely worthless stuff. :roll:
study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence."
Social studies parameters: "Within the school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences." http://www.learner.org/workshops/socialstudies/pdf/session8/8.WhatIsSocialStudies.pdf
Yeah. That's definitely worthless stuff. :roll:
I don't think it should be compulsory, some kids just don't like confrontation, and the need to spar would probably bring the anxiety up to far for some.
But it does have some great aspects which would be important for some kids to learn. Not all kids have a lack of respect, but some do. A well run class of martial arts instills respect for yourself, and for others. It's core to many of the disciplines.
But it does have some great aspects which would be important for some kids to learn. Not all kids have a lack of respect, but some do. A well run class of martial arts instills respect for yourself, and for others. It's core to many of the disciplines.
Yup. At the most it could be an elective. Otherwise, gov';t should leave it alone, never mind nannying, and let parents decide.
I have to disagree based on one small facet,Tonington. Martial arts classes teach respect to those looking to be in a martial arts class. For a kid who doesn't want to be there, doesn't want to absorb the lesson, it's worthless for teaching discipline, and just valuable in teaching them how to hit.
Not even elective, imo. As far as I'm concerned, the gov would be best off giving kids 'extra curricular vouchers' for programs such as swimming, dance, piano lessons, martial arts, gymnastics, etc... that let kids access programs at a lower rate or free (depending on the program), and have those programs apply toward credits.
You scope of Social Studies is a little greater than mine and while I agree Geography is important, I didn't consider Mathematics to be "Social Studies", but anyway I chose a bad comparison- one's as important as the other just different. :smile:
no, one's not as important as the other.
I've never taken a self defense class or a gun class, and I can do both just fine. The same would not be true of my grasp of social studies in the absence of learning it in school. Nor is the day to day demand for it in business life anywhere NEAR the same for 90% of people.
I'm not sure if the knowledge of Social Studies is going to save your life but the knowledge and ability to use and handle weapons definitely could. :smile::smile:
Yes, it might save my life, and that's why I've learned how to handle a knife, how to shoot, and how to fight as much as I'm capable.
But, the number of people who will apply it is where we veer off into a very different issue. I don't want to sound jaded, but, school is about making society tick day to day, minute to minute, and social studies applies to every one, almost every day.
Oh definitely. I didn't expand on why it shouldn't be mandatory, but my intention was that the benefits of martial arts and self defense are for those who want to be there. The kids who don't want to be there (I used confrontation, but really for any reason at all) won't enjoy the same benefits. They will benefit from some physical activity and that would probably be all.
Though this tangentially leads into another topic- the different learning styles between the genders. Probably better for another thread though.
OK, maybe making self-defense courses for children mandatory would be going too far. In that case, how about:
1. Each public school would be required to offer at least one comparatively easy martial art and one traditional martial art. To take tai chi chuan as an example, the school could offer the simplified 24-form tai chi chuan and the yang style tai chi chuan. This would ensure a form for all levels of ability. However, no school would be required to make martial arts training mandatory; those schools that choose not to make it mandatory could offer it as an alternative to PE for interested students, while schools that choose to make it mandatory could choose to just have it replace PE.
2. Each public school could be granted the freedom to teach firearms instruction to students above a certain age should they wish to to do so, but would not be allowed to make it mandatory.
I think this would be a reasonable step forward.
Interesting related article here:
Martial arts in modern China: Everybody is kung fu fighting - Asia, World - The Independent
Why not learn how they do it in the Chinese schools and introduce it to Canadian schools? Sure it's still experimental in China but they're still at least a little ahead of us in that they've at least started experimenting with it in school.
1. Each public school would be required to offer at least one comparatively easy martial art and one traditional martial art. To take tai chi chuan as an example, the school could offer the simplified 24-form tai chi chuan and the yang style tai chi chuan. This would ensure a form for all levels of ability. However, no school would be required to make martial arts training mandatory; those schools that choose not to make it mandatory could offer it as an alternative to PE for interested students, while schools that choose to make it mandatory could choose to just have it replace PE.
2. Each public school could be granted the freedom to teach firearms instruction to students above a certain age should they wish to to do so, but would not be allowed to make it mandatory.
I think this would be a reasonable step forward.
Interesting related article here:
Martial arts in modern China: Everybody is kung fu fighting - Asia, World - The Independent
Why not learn how they do it in the Chinese schools and introduce it to Canadian schools? Sure it's still experimental in China but they're still at least a little ahead of us in that they've at least started experimenting with it in school.
Math isn't. But then what I quoted didn't say it was. It said certain aspects of math are valuable in social studies.
IMO, history is a waste of time, but some people like history and I can see some value in it. So there's no way I would suggest taking it out.
I could go for that. Or it could be something for phys ed. But definitely not mandatory.
Yeah, I never had much time for history (loved geography) however I suppose economists and warmongers who are interested in predicting the future can check out the past and draw some conclusions about what follows what. :lol::lol:
Just offer it as a option, some school systems are dropping all Phys. Ed. courses all together. Gotta work of those calories somehow.
Two interesting thoughts on this topic
Perhaps all students could be taught basic self-defense maneuvers for self-protection but not aggression if at all possible....
More important would be verbal arbitration and exchange ie: debate and understanding. Seems to have a more mature outcome - but then if someone is angry - that may not be the outcome they desire.
I'm thinking on the lines of: "How could we work this problem out by talking to drop the level of tension between us?"
Perhaps all students could be taught basic self-defense maneuvers for self-protection but not aggression if at all possible....
More important would be verbal arbitration and exchange ie: debate and understanding. Seems to have a more mature outcome - but then if someone is angry - that may not be the outcome they desire.
I'm thinking on the lines of: "How could we work this problem out by talking to drop the level of tension between us?"
Martial arts and shooting would be a lot better for PE than silly games that involve chasing pieces of rubber across fields and floors.