Should self defense be taught in school?

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Do you think self defense should be an option for students to take in high school? Not a mandatory thing obviously but I think at certain places people should know how to defend themselves, for example, poverty neighbourhoods, areas of big immigrant population, especially those from Sudan/ISIS-land/Lybia and other failed states.

There have been countless of rapes, crimes, burglaries and what not... what do you guys think?

Yes in theory but who would license them?

Well they don't need to learn martial arts, with the whole dancing, rules, technique and all... not as a sport like Kung fu or Karate. Thus they will be able to learn some defense tactics applied specifically to civilian "street" situation. For example

1) How to assess a situation: if somebody approaches you with a knife? club? how should you act? what if the attacker is bigger and can't be matched in power for example... in those cases what to do.

2) Fight or run. when, where, what.

3) The technique. How to fight back with emphasis on your own survivabillity over trying to completely overwhelm the threat.

People with former army, police or civillian background in self-defense will most likely be able to train, with the right attitude towards students and especially now - people just don't realize it is nessecary until it happens to them.

I'd be wary of it unless it's being taught well and there's a system in place to see to that. If so, it would be great as an elective. I think the mention of "run or fight" is an important one. Any good martial arts instructors I've had emphasized that you always run if the option is available.

Not a bad plan, though it can't teach TOO much as this could make children too dangerous (and yeah, children can certainly be dangerous as well).

Remember the story of the two hikers who saw a bear approaching, when one said "Don't run..there's no way we can out run a bear." and the other hiker says "But I only have to run faster than you." (I'm bad at jokes)?

I'd suggest teaching gun safety in all schools so when the kids grow up to be old farts like me, they'll have a chance when everyone else outruns them.