Martial Arts Training for At-Risk Youth

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In her article, Violent Students Get 2nd Chance, Kirsten Stewart starts by telling us the story of Juan Salazar.

“Juan Salazar was a bully, the guy you didn’t want to encounter after school, the guy you wanted on your side in a scuffle. ‘It’s what I did. It’s what people know me for,’ said the Taylorsville 17-year-old.”

According to the article, through the practice of martial arts, now his grades are up and he’ll be graduating from high school soon.

The Granite School District has begun what they call off-site educational placements “for students with so-called ’safe school’ violations — those caught fighting, threatening violence or possessing weapons, drugs or alcohol on school grounds.”

Since often times kids get into more trouble when they’re suspended or expelled from school, these off-site programs are becoming more and more popular. It seems that they’re more successful in actually reforming the juveniles.

“Punitive approaches, such as detention and expulsion, can create a revolving door. Minors who get into legal trouble and stop going to school have a hard time finding a steady job and are more prone to alcoholism and mental disorders on average than their peers, studies show.”

The recidivism rate, they report, is only 7 percent, which is quite low.

Read the original article here.

kstewart@sltrib.com