TV Review : Self-Defense for Kids: Can It Go Too Far?

Could a fragile-looking little girl disarm a knife-wielding male kidnaper and then disable him?

Barbara Gallen, who runs a controversial child safety program called The Defense Department, says yes. Pat Hines, who founded her own children’s program, Safe Moves, and Ellen Snortland, a teacher in yet another program, Kidpower, say the claim is “ridiculous.” Hines says that making a child think such a thing is possible is “irresponsible.”

Each of the three programs, designed to give children protection from the world’s dangers, are profiled on KCET-TV’s “Life & Times,” tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Gallen, with in-your-face intensity, exposes her young trainees, ages 7 to 13, to graphic scenarios of abduction and sexual attack, acted out by adult male assailants in padded protective gear. Parents look on as children are coached to defend themselves through physical violence. One little girl is urged to slice her attacker’s hamstrings and then his throat. Gallen says that parents who don’t want their children to know such things are setting them up to be victims.

Snortland soft-pedals specifics, stressing “awareness and confidence” to help children avoid dangerous situations. She teaches them ways to strike out only in order to get away.

Hines points out that children are many more times likely to be seriously injured or killed riding a bicycle or walking across a street, and focuses strictly on that.

How much do children need to know? At what age? Does graphically teaching children the rudiments of maiming and killing truly make them safer? Do they pay an emotional price? The Polly Klaas tragedy is referred to repeatedly. Disturbing questions; no clear answers. Afterward, viewer response is requested.

* “Life & Times,” KCET (Channel 28), tonight, 7:30 p.m.