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Summit in the News
April 11, 2007 Teaching self-defenseSchool violence prompts teachers to become pupils in defense classesby Amy Bounds
Assistant Principal Amanda Avallone jabs at instructor Bill Kipp's eyes after he “attacked” her during a self-defense course for Summit Middle School teachers. The four-session class, administered by Niwot-based FAST Defense, was arranged in response to recent school tragedies. Photos by Joshua Lawton Self-defense class for teachers Teachers Kelli Frykholm and Cynthia Kolanowski giggled as they took turns pretending to choke each other on a dusty mat in Summit Middle School's gym. Joined by other teachers and the school's principal this week, they practiced how to use hips and legs to knock off an attacker before following up with slow-motion, fake eye jabs and kicks to the groin and head. But the giggles faded as the two-hour lesson in “ground fighting” culminated with the teachers pitted against fully padded opponents. Then, they yelled and fought hard and dirty. Summit Principal David Finell proposed the self-defense class after several incidents put school violence in the spotlight. A 16-year-old girl was shot and killed by an intruder in September at Bailey's Platte Canyon High School and, less than a week later, a gunman killed five girls in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. “We thought it would make sense to train people on what they could do until the police got there,” Finell said. “The main emphasis is on verbal de-escalation. There's also training on how to take somebody down.” He said the class is just one way Summit enhanced security this year. The school also improved door security and became more vigilant in getting visitors parents included to sign in and wear badges. “We give our students constant reminders about reporting anybody on campus without a badge,” he said. Summit, a charter school in south Boulder, is the only Boulder Valley school offering a self-defense class to teachers. But the school district also has reviewed its safety plans and tightened security at schools. “We really want our staff to focus on the safekeeping of kids,” said Joe Sleeper, Boulder Valley operations director. “Getting them out of a setting that is hostile or locking them in is our No. 1 priority.” At Summit, this week's self-defense lesson was the third of four. Along with ground fighting, the teachers have learned how to verbally handle conflict and to fight standing up. The last lesson is on armed intruders. Trained to nurture, some of the teachers said they started out unsure about gouging out eyes and delivering a knee to the groin. But, they said, the training is replacing a feeling of helplessness with confidence. “This kind of confrontation is becoming less terrifying,” said science teacher Haydee Phelps. “I have the confidence that I would at least do something. You want to protect the students. They're like your kids.” The company providing the classes is Niwot's FAST Defense. FAST, which stands for Fear Adrenal Stress Training, provides classes to businesses worldwide. Children's services also are offered. “We're not going to teach you to be Rambo,” said Bill Kipp, who's the company president and co-taught the Summit class with CEO Debra Thomas. “We're just going to teach you some options.” Kipp told the teachers to worry more about getting free than perfect technique. “It's 90 percent spirit, 10 percent technique,” he said. “You turn your fear into power.” Summit English teacher David Liebowitz said he signed up for the class because he wanted to know how to respond to potentially violent conflicts—“a reality of how we have to navigate being educators.” He said the course has taught him valuable skills for handling confrontations, including that it's more important to control the situation than prove that he's right. Amanda Avallone, an assistant principal and English teacher, said she's used the training to help defuse three “potentially ugly” confrontations with parents.
“Being able to stay very detached and rational was very helpful,” she said.
Principal David Finell, top, listens to an instructor as parent-volunteer John Cowley plays the role of an attack victim during a self-defense class for the Summit Middle School staff in the school gym Tuesday.
Principal David Finell forces his “attacker” instructor Bill Kipp off his back during a self-defense course for Summit Middle School staff in the school gym on Tuesday.
English teacher David Leibowitz finishes off his “attacker”, instructor Bill Kipp, as instructor Debra Thomas coaches and monitors a self-defense course for Summit Middle School staff in the school gym on Tuesday.
Kelli Frykholm, right, “fights back” against Cynthia Kolanowski during a self-defense course for Summitt Middle School staff in the school gym on Tuesday. The four session class, administered by Niwot-based FAST Defense, was implemented in response to recent school tragedies.
Instructor Debra Thomas gives ground fighting tips to English teacher Kelli Frykholm during a self-defense course for Summit Middle School staff in the school gym on Tuesday. What teachers are learning What Summit Middle School teachers are learning in a FAST Defense class:
Boulder Valley School District security measures:
Contact Camera Staff Writer Amy Bounds at 303-473-1341 or boundsa[at]dailycamera.com. © 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC. |
