Boxing in schools?

Sky Sports News spoke to Joe Calzaghe - and others - about the move to bring boxing back to schools.

Undisputed world champion Joe Calzaghe is among those backing the move to bring boxing back to our schools. The noble art was removed from the national curriculum in 1962 and only now is is starting to make a return. There are several pilot schemes around the country where qualified coaches are teaching pupils the basics of the sport, although sparring is not allowed for children under the age of 11 and parental consent is needed for those old enough. The British Medical Association want the sport banned across the board, although the scheme to bring it back to our schools is helped by the English Institute of Sport saying there is no evidence linking it to serious injury. Sky Sports News spoke to some of the big hitters in the battle for boxing and WBO, WBC and WBA super-middleweight king Calzaghe is among the biggest names backing the move. "Regardless of whether you want to take it up as a profession or a sport, it's a tremendous discipline for kids," he said. "When I was younger, it was a tremendous outlet for aggression, for everything." Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe - who we will speak to later in the week - has gone on record saying he wants boxing back in our schools to help tackle childhood obesity and teach youngsters respect and discipline. As a result, the pilot schemes are becoming more and more common.

Authority

One such scheme is running at the London Boxing Academy in Tottenham Community Sports Centre, and the man behind it believes it is perfect in giving potentially troublesome kids a release - and keeping trouble off the streets. "People say it will teach them to be more violent. No - we're actually teaching them to accept the authority of the trainer, of a referee," said Simon Marcus. "It provides a framework within which to express what they will do anyway, so we're taking that violence from the street and we're channeling it in a positive way in the gym." As ever though, there are two sides to the story and there is a clear arguement that teaching bullies to box is not a good idea. The health and safety concerns also mean there are plenty of people who are against boxing in our schools and later in the week Sky Sports News will get their side of the story. We also have a special interview with Sports Minister Sutcliffe. In the meantime, we want YOUR views on bringing boxing back to our schools. Will it teach kids discipline? Will it take trouble off our streets and into a controlled environment? Or is it simply too dangerous? Or will it add to the bullying problem? Fill in the feedback form below and let us know your views. Also, if you are running a boxing scheme at your local school, or if you are one of the youngsters being given the chance to lace up the gloves, tell us about your experiences...