Boxing in Schools: A good combo or a recipe for disaster?

Everyone has an opinion on boxing. The British Medical Association would prefer to see the controversial sport banned, many people enjoy watching it on the television when a hyped up match is on, some think it’s too violent and others travel to the other side of the world to watch their favourite champ battle it out.

World champion boxer, Joe Calazaghe, however, believes there are so many benefits to boxing, it should be introduced in all schools and be core part of the curriculum. He said:

“Too many kids of 14 or 15 years old are getting drunk because they have nothing to do – boxing would take away unwanted aggression and give them something to aim for.” (Wales Online)

He goes so far to say boxing should be “mandatory” in schools.

Photograph courtesy of Flickr

First let’s look at the positives to this.

Boxing is widely believed to be a sport that teaches more than how to throw punches. “It teaches respect and discipline,” said Robert Smith, who is the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control.

It is these two factors: respect and discipline, which are mentioned a lot when people talk about the benefits of boxing.

“Kids today have no discipline. Boxing in schools is a good idea,” agreed Jimmy Moon, who is a coach at Larches and Savick Amateur Boxing Club.

There is also the fitness aspect of boxing. Preston’s British and Commonwealth boxing champion, Paul Burke, believes there is no other sport that can compare to boxing.

“It gives you agility, speed, strength and it’s mentally challenging. There’s a lot more to boxing than just fighting,” he said.


CONCERNS


It is the reasons for bringing boxing into schools which worries some people. Should it be brought in to tackle bullying, fitness, self-defence, concentration or all of these? Most people will agree that any type of sport is beneficial in terms of fitness but when it comes to tackling bullying, some are worried that boxing could be introduced for the wrong reasons.

Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Councillor Julie Buttle, who is lead member for children and young people, is concerned that kids’ newly found boxing skills could be used as a form of defence. “I’d be worried that we would be getting children to defend themselves with their fists. I don’t think that’s the way we should be going with it. I think it’s a good idea from a physical education point of view. It’s also good as a way of getting aggression out of their system but there are other issues there like why have they got that aggression? There should be other ways to tackle it such as identifying why it’s there.”


KIDS WILL BE KIDS


It is the idea of kids being able to control their new found fighting ability, which is perhaps one of the most worrying aspects of introducing boxing in schools.

Councillor Julie Buttle compares it to her first driving lesson: “My instructor said to me ‘this is a machine, that in the wrong hands can kill’ and it was something that was as blunt as that which then gave me respect for the vehicle because you know if it’s not handled properly it could become a machine that kills and its exactly the same with boxing.”
Would children be able to control such power?

Chris Gornall, a teacher at Ashton-on-Ribble High School predicted they may use their boxing skills in a more sinister way. “If they have a reputation of being a very good boxer in school then they are going to use that fear factor to their advantage.”

It seems that, although a good idea in theory, boxing could do more damage than good


THE STIGMA


Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, thinks people are too harsh on the controversial sport. “I bet the same people who say boxing is dangerous wouldn’t say the same thing about kids taking part in judo or other contact sports.”

Indeed boxing, in particular, has often had bad press. The British Medical Association thinks it should be banned and the media is quick to slam the sport whenever a boxer declares so much as a headache. What hope does it have, then, of being introduced as part of school curriculum?

Several schools in London are teaching boxing to their youngsters and so far it’s had a positive effect, according to reports. Boris Johnson aims to tackle London youth crime by supporting the sport, believing it will teach the kids some good old-fashioned discipline.

So what about up North? A few phone calls I made to Preston high schools revealed that we’re not quite ready to embrace boxing amongst kids. Many of the operators I spoke to almost recoiled in disgust when I asked them whether boxing was made available to Preston school kids.

The reality of Calazaghe’s proposal is unlikely. Although boxing has been clinched by some schools, it is far - fetched to imagine it being introduced in all schools and being a core component of the national curriculum. Even with its boasts of teaching much needed discipline and respect, not everyone can come to terms with the thought of children throwing punches at each other in the name of sport. Until everyone can accept it, mandatory boxing in all schools is a distant prospect. For now anyway.

Click play on the video below to listen to Preston shoppers' opinions on boxing in schools.