What do you parents on this neck of the woods feel about self defense taught in school as part of gym classes?

If taught right this would be a good thing. Most martial arts teach self discipline and teaches a respect for all. It doesn't teach violence. In fact it teaches them not to use force unless you are in clear danger. There have also been studies that the best thing to do when someone tries to attack you is to fight back and make as much noise as possible (screaming and yelling). They are more likely to take a person that is quiet and non-combative than someone who will put up a fight. They have even said on the news to women to not let someone take you to a second location because then it becomes that much more dangerous. So learning self defense would be a good thing in my opinion.

Both my children enjoyed Karate for a number of years - my daughter achieving a rank of 2nd degree brown, my son green. This is what I love about martial arts:
1. Excellent cardio and strength training
2. All children can participate - even those that have difficulty with field sports, hand eye co-ordination etc.
3. Martial Arts teaches self control and planning. What is the best way to avoid getting hit? Getting out of the way. A good martial arts program teaches how to avoid dangerous situations.
4. Martial Arts requires listening, sequencing, visualization, memory skills. All important to reading and academics.
5. Martial Arts is inclusive, inexpensive, and life long exercise.

Our middle school is adding martial arts to the curriculum next year. It is less about teaching self defense skills (although I agree this is important), and more about offering an enjoyable way to exercise for physical and mental fitness.

I think its a great idea! Kudos to you for looking to make it happen!

I am so mixed in my feelings about this.... I agree that anyone can become a victim if targeted, thus wanting to agree that it would be nice if they knew how to defend themselves.
However I fear that in teaching them this defense, we may in return spark a fire or another thing for them to be targeted by other students for. We all know bullies, and the emotional strain that preasures that other children can inflict hurting us all, I fear this just becoming a new avenue for the children to judge each other about. and as well we may be inviting and creating the abusers in teaching this kind of thing in school.
I would love to think we live in a perfect world and that this is something outrageous and unnecesary, yet I know that I would hate to hear of any child being a victim of any kind of abuse. I would have to say that I personally would prefer to talk to and teach my children the dangers that may approach them and would prefer that they learn how to recognize and defend themselves without the need of violence.
There is already to much violence in the world surrounding them in the cartoons and tv shows they see and the true violence on the streets. Truth is violence breeds violence and I do not wish for my children to be taught to partake in violence. the thought that they would learn to defend themselves, just sais to me that I am allowing my child to learn to bully if they choose that they think they can fight better than this kid or that. No thank you. I would choose to speak and teach my children that danger exsist and inform them of alternative ways to deal with such issues. Honestly if it is another child that is victimising my child I would hope that the school or other childs parents would step in when made aware and allow for there to be a resolution that doesnt reguire fighting. As well if it is an adult victimising our children, What chance do they realy have in defending them selves. the only outcome I see in these lessons, is for children to learn and think it is ok and the right thing to do in fighting with others.
NO THANKS!!!!
respect earns respect, love teaches love, and anger breeds anger. fear breeds ignorance, and children should not be forced to acknowledge fear, were is the care free childs play in fear? Ignorance is telling your child that they can fight and defend themselves and that will save them when in reality it could hurt them more than anything.
I respect that you would like for them to be taught and that I am sure your true goal is to protect our children but I dont believe that this is a reasonable solution. Power is in knowledge and trust. I would rather a counselor speak to my child and tell them how to handle the emotions of being bullied and offering to my child an alternative to violence. If two children must confront an issue together, then allow it to be done on neutral ground with an adult joining them together and taking the time to talk with them together and let them work it out with words not fists.
If the need for this defense is in arguing for the sake of children being victimized by adults more than children, then how is it that anyone can believe we can teach a child the defense that will save them from an adults strengths? Clearly there is no match and may get our children hurt worse in angering the attacker by attacking them.