R; Public schools should offer martial arts P.E. classes

I hope we can have a productive and educational debate here. C1: Physical WellbeingMartial arts serves as a method of exercise that is highly beneficial because it [1]: Builds & stimulates muscle groups that mostly are unstimulated in the average student's life Increases coordination Both are important to build in America's youth as we become increasingly unhealthy and auto accidents and fatalities are growing again among the youth. [2] The obesity rate in the U. S. has tripled in the past 20 years among teens and is set to grow even more[3], meaning that we should explore alternative methods to enhance the physical wellbeing of students other than the other methods that we have used that appear to have had little effect. Martial arts is affective where other forms of P. E. aren't and can be used at a variety of levels to get students involved in physical activity. [4] Secondly, the accident rate among youth in this country can be casually related to the growing use of texting and phones while driving; this statistic has been more or less stable until 2003 when arguably mobile phones became more popular among the youth. While this is extraneous, I would argue that the increase in coordination of students that take these classes would improve their ability to drive safely and build better reaction times in traffic. [1] . http://www.dumblittleman.com... [2] . http://articles.washingtonpost.com... [3] . http://www.cdc.gov... [4] . http://www.your-health-online.com... C2: Mental Dicipline & Social Benefits Martial arts has been researched as a method to assist troubled youth, build better social relationships and develop self-discipline in it's practitioners. [5][6][7] The main way this is done is by creating a structured group environment that teaches self-control, respect and an acceptible method to release aggression. The end result is a group of people that are “at peace with themselves” and each other, which for some students that are shunned by their peers causing the “toubled teen” and is key to improving their social welbeing. [5] . http://ftp.pwp.att.net... [6] . http://www.pe4bodymindspirit.santacruz.k12.ca.us... [7] . http://www.scribd.com... C3: Self-DefenseOf course, teaching students self-defense seems to go hand in hand with martial arts, but we live in a polite society these days right? There is no need to be able to defend yourself (I mean heck, the only time I ever got into fist fights were before and after I was in high school). In case you didn't catch that, that statement was wholly sarcastic. Protection of our youth serves it's purpose, however it serves another purpose: building self-efficacy. Students that are taught to defend themselves rate themselves higher on tests of percieved efficacy, making them more active and assertive in their adult lives – traits that I think we can agree enable a person to be more successful. [7] Also, considering that these are coed classes (implied at least) there is a distinct benefit to protecting women from assault. Martial arts classes are a key means to improving a woman's ability to resist rape and victimization. [8] When at least a fifth of women experience rape in their lifetime in this country[9], this is a pretty significant effect. Since I'm not one to say women belong in the kitchen, I think that's a moderately good idea. [8] . http://search.proquest.com... [9] . http://www.nytimes.com... Meta: Lastly, BoP goes both ways friend. I hate to have a meta-debate but by agreeing to the debate you agree to the terms I set. Disagreeing without providing articulated reasons why does not protect you from the BoP. I've presented warrants why the proposition is a good idea, if you want to argue why it is bad independant of or counter to my argumentation, you need to provide proof as well. Otherwise your argumentation is simply going to come down to unsubstantiated claims which, from what I can tell by this community already, is not looked fondly upon because it serves only as a detriment to the debate by not presenting productive & educational arguments.