Connecting With Schools

Our school system is arguably the last bastion of refuge from the marketing barrage that dominates the waking hours of children and families across North America. As professional Martial Artists we have an opportunity and a responsibility to conduct ourselves with integrity and professionalism when working to promote the benefits of martial arts to children within the school system. We need to first begin with a little self-education on how our modern day school system is organized.

1. Major decisions regarding course programming and standards are made by school board and state (provincial authorities). For the martial arts school owner, these are not the authorities you will be dealing with directly however you should know what the schools in your district have identified as their key priorities. These “district goals” are generally posted on school district web sites in the form of accountability or achievement contracts. Knowing the goals of schools in your area better positions you to partner with these schools to provide solutions to the challenges of bullying and violence, adult predators, low student achievement, childhood obesity, and discrimination.

2. Public or Private? The vast majority of students in any given school district are registered in public schools. Independent schools have the advantage of being populated by families who have made a conscious choice to select a specific educational experience for their child. This is not unlike the mindset of families who have chosen your academy for their child’s martial arts education. Although it could be argued that the same holds true for many public school families, keep in mind that 100% of Independent and Private school attendees are there by choice because of a value parents have placed on their child’s education. When considering approaching a local school to provide your expertise or service, begin by tracking where your existing aged students attend. These students and parents provide a mechanism by which you can be introduced as a credible authority to the school principal or parent group chairperson.

3. Distance Education and Home Schooling groups represent another avenue to relationship building within the school system. Parents who have chosen an alternate program of formal education for their children often need support in helping their children meet prescribed learning outcomes in areas such as physical education, social responsibility, and personal development. Contact your local school district to speak with the district home school and distance education coordinators. Check also for local home school associations of families that are educating their children outside of the school system. Your expertise can be a great support to these families. So you understand how schools are organized and have received an invitation by way of one of your students’ parents to meet with the principal or speak at the next parent group meeting – now what? Come prepared to provide solutions to the challenges outlined previously. Here are some program options that schools will greatly benefit from:

1. Street Safety (Grades K-6)

2. Bully Prevention (Grades 3-9)

3. Fitness & Self Image (Grades 6 – 12)

4. After School Martial Arts Fundraiser (K-6)

5. Self-Defense (Grades 6-12)

6. Wellness (teachers & Support Staff)

Prepare an overview for the option you wish to teach within the school and present the benefits to the principal and/or parent group. I recommend either not charging for any inschool programs or giving back all money charged back to the school by way of a fundraising effort. It is always a good idea to conclude any series of in-school lessons with a “wind-up” graduation of sorts at your academy (usually on a weekend) where parents and guests can see the benefits gained from participants in your program. This can also serve as an appropriate time to schedule follow-up conferences with families interested in pursuing training beyond the sample lessons provided to the school. I believe it is an honor to be asked to teach children and we must respect boundaries when invited into a school environment. I have heard time and again horror stories of martial arts school operators who over promote themselves and their programs with utter disrespect to students, teachers and school administrators. You are a guest when you are in a classroom and should behave accordingly. Here are some tips to assist your school visit being successful and setting you up for many return visits in the future…

1. Get invited to the school by a parent or adult student of your local academy

2. Always “check in” at the school office

3. Have readily available handouts and letters to parents summarizing your talk and/or lesson. Include any enrolment incentives within the body of the letter to parents.

4. Never give anything directly to children. Letters, summary handouts, certificates etc…). Always submit these items to the office (principal) for approval first.

5. Avoid excessive self-promotion. You are not doing a demonstration at the annual town fair. You want to build a long-lasting relationship with teachers, parents, and school administrators. A good reputation cannot be gained on one visit alone.

6. Ensure any assistants have had criminal record checks, first aid training etc…)

7. Be Professional. Look, dress, and act like a professional. Wearing your uniform is always a good idea but it is also acceptable to dress in business casual attire especially for classroom talks and teacher professional development day seminars.

Partnering with your local public and private schools can be a winning experience for everyone if it is handled professionally and with the best interests of children at the forefront. Execute your visits with professional and courteous conduct and you will establish yourself as a respected and trusted expert within your community. Cathal Walsh has fourteen years experience working as a teacher and principal in elementary and middle schools in British Columbia. He has also served as a Provincial Standards Coordinator for the BC Ministry of Education. Combined with that experience is ten years of operating a very successful family martial arts school. Cathal recently restructured and sold his school as a franchise. He now has two franchisees on Vancouver Island and is embarking on Canada’s first national martial arts franchise expansion.