In today's world, it is extremely common to know common terms such as self defense. According to the legal dictionary, the term self-defense is "the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or one's family members from bodily harm caused by an attack by an aggressor, if the defender has reason to believe that he is.” /are in danger” (Search legal terms). Now, if one were to ask anyone what self-defense means, of course, any adult would know exactly what the term means. However, if one were to ask a child what self-defense means, many would be confused as to what exactly self-defense is or what purpose it serves. As crime increases in today's world, one wonders if a student found themselves in a situation where their life was in danger, would they even know how to properly defend themselves? Schools should seek answers to discover ways to protect helpless children. One response to this chaos would be to offer self-defense classes in schools, to teach students the life lesson of self-protection. However, this controversial subject is not accepted by all school boards. Although some school boards claim that schools that offer self-defense classes ultimately encourage violence, they are wrong because these classes should be offered in schools to provide students with the opportunity to feel safe and develop their self-discipline. School boards who dispute that schools that offer self-defense classes encourage violence are wrong, because in reality these classes provide students with the opportunity to feel safe. Many students who walk to and from school want to feel safe. Even working parents don't feel 100% safe knowing their child is walking where dangers lurk in the middle of paper......realize that crime and bullying will never go away . The only answer to this problem is to acquire and offer basic self-defense knowledge, preventing children from being the next victims of the dangers that lurk in the shadows. Works Cited “America’s Missing.” Missing Persons Statistics and Facts. Np, and Web. April 9, 2014. “Bullying and suicide among young people. » Politics and Government Week [Los Angeles] July 4, 2013: 17-18. Print. “The course builds confidence through self-defense. » Inter Lac daily. Np, September 28, 2013. Web. April 9, 2014.Fass, Paula S.. Kidnapped: Child Abduction in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Print.McCallum, Paul. A practical guide to self-defense for women. White Hall, Virginia: BetterwayPublications, 1991. Print. “Search for legal terms and definitions. » Law.com Legal Dictionary. Np, and Web. April 9. 2014.