Self Defense against Kids will be a program that happens in Gym class. Kids from 6th to 8th grade will have a unit in their gym for self defense. This will help them feel more safe in our community at night. Boxing and Karate instructors will oversee the unit and be in charge of it to teach kids to defend themselves against people who would harm them, like muggers.

What is the issue?

Our project has the goal of transforming Cambridge into a place where people can feel safe and secure while walking home. We should be able to leave our houses and not have to feel concerned about not finding our way back home. 

To that end, our team’s idea is to implement a self defence unit in gym classes. The self defence class will include many types of fighting styles. The class will be run by a self defence teacher who is a member of the community. The class would be held in the gym of the school. 

Survey

• We made a google survey comparing self defense and ballroom dancing and sent it to students who participated in ballroom dancing at CPS
• 15 total responses 
• Data Summary: The vast majority of respondents thought that ballroom dancing wasn’t a good use of time, did not like ballroom dancing and don’t believe that they use any skills acquired from it in their daily lives.
• Main Insight: Most people didn’t enjoy ballroom dancing and found it to be useless and would prefer an alternative.

Interviews

• We made a 7 question interview for our teachers about the importance of ballroom dancing vs self defense classes
• Main Insight: The teachers shared the student’s opinion and held self defense to an equal if not higher level of importance than ballroom dancing.

Are we doing a disservice to CPSD children by not providing them with life skills? 

While Cambridge may not be a dangerous place, the world can be. We want to ensure that children know exactly what to do if they find themselves in these dangerous situations.

Statistically, children are some of the most vulnerable to kidnappings and assaults. It’s incredibly important to ensure that they are not going into the world unaware and sheltered.

• Send letter to parents and notify
• 3 days a week
• Defense class will be additional to gym class
• Focus on empowerment as well
• Have students start in 6th grade
• 6th and 7th grade defense class is mandatory, and optional in 8th grade.
• Semester year long in in 6th and 7th grade and year long in 8th
• Option for co-ed

• Things to change: Our research process, and making decisions about our topic earlier 
• Liked: The ability to talk to other kids and have social activity, and having a virtual job
• Wishes: To be able to pursue this project further and have the middle school gym education reevaluated