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CHS Must Mandate Self Defense In The PE Curriculum
Self-defense units must be mandated in PE 9 curriculum to equip students with the necessary skills to protect themselves in dangerous situations. EVAN LU | SANIA MEHTA | LISA ZIVANIC print editor-in-chief | online editor-in-chief | print editor-in-chief
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s the world becomes increasingly unpredictable, self-defense has become a crucial life skill that everyone should possess. Recently, self-defense training has gained popularity, and it is no longer seen as purely a niche activity. Instead, it has become an essential part of personal fitness and well-being. It is for this reason that we strongly believe that a self-defense unit should be added to the Physical Education 9 curriculum. PE 9 is a class taken by high school freshmen in which they learn about physical fitness, sports and other aspects of health and wellness. The role of a high school is to educate its students and prepare them for their intended path after
graduation, whether that is college or straight to the workforce. As students transition into adulthood, schools have a responsibility to ensure they are equipped with not only academic knowledge but also practical life skills that will benefit them in the future. Adding a self-defense unit to the PE 9 curriculum would give students the knowledge and skills necessary to defend themselves in dangerous situations. Cupertino High School provides an option for self-defense training through its PE total fitness program, which includes a unit on self defense, as well as PE martial arts–which is a combination of fighting techniques such as taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, commonly referred to
as mixed martial arts. However, the issue with CHS’s current approach to teaching self-defense is that these classes are not mandatory. Students can circumvent this important life-skill curriculum by opting for sports PE or by choosing PE 10-12. According to a survey conducted in 2015 by the Association of American Universities, one in four women experience sexual violence at some point in their undergraduate education. Given the dangers facing young adults, particularly women, it is imperative that CHS and high schools nationwide fulfill their commitment to ready students for the realities of the world. This includes providing education on self-defense as a means of protection against physical violence. In late January, Coach James Gilmore held a short self-defense unit. The unit covered escapes from potentially life-threatening situations, insight into the legal aspects of self-defense and the importance of self-defense. According to Gilmore, “When you’re strong in the world, it’s a less scary place.” He believes that having self-defense knowledge and being confident in one’s abilities to defend themselves can positively impact an individual’s mindset, making them less fearful and more resilient in different situations. Jess Roberts, the PE martial arts instructor and a math teacher at CHS, shares their experience with self-defense and how it has given them confidence in poten-