Published in the May 9, 2018 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Community Schools is launching a new self defense class for women this month.
Lynnfield High School physical education teacher Michelle Perrone will be teaching the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System course. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive women-only course that teaches risk reduction and risk avoidance techniques as well as hands-on defense training.
“R.A.D. is the basic physical defense for women,” said Perrone. “It’s a nationally recognized program that trains primarily police departments, and teachers and administrators in schools.”
Community Schools Director Michaelann Herook said the program will take place on May 15, May 17, May 22 and May 24. She said each class will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. at Lynnfield High School. She said the class will be made available to the first 10 people who register for the program.
“A participant has to attend all four classes,” said Herook. “It’s a total of 10 hours for the training. I think it’s great for the community. We are encouraging mothers and daughters to do it together. We are encouraging college students returning home for the summer to take the class because it’s a good time for them to get trained in self defense before they go back to school.”
Herook said the program costs $100, and there will be a discounted rate for family members.
“If there are two in one family, it’s $175,” said Herook.
Perrone proposed implementing the program to Herook after taking an R.A.D. class offered by the Newton Police Department.
“My brother is a sergeant in the city of Somerville,” said Perrone. “He teaches the R.A.D. class for the city of Somerville and for Tufts University. I took the class after he mentioned it to me. After taking it, I thought about my students and the girls in Lynnfield. I think this is something that is important to offer the women and girls in town. We don’t have anyone else trained in Lynnfield, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to do this.”
Perrone encouraged women to sign up for the program.
“This program helps prepare women and girls for a situation they might not know how to react to,” said Perrone. “It gives them confidence to be able to think things through and know ‘I am prepared for this, so I can definitely get myself out of this situation and not panic.’ It’s key not to panic and to remember your training, and use that training accordingly.”
Perrone said the R.A.D. class will include three different components.
“It’s pretty extensive,” said Perrone. “The program will have a classroom component, a discussion component and a physical tactics component. When you are talking about high school and college students, you want students to make smart and positive decisions as well as be able to think through uncomfortable situations when they are out and about.”
Perrone said the R.A.D. program requires extensive training in order for a person to become a certified instructor.
“My training was pretty intense for three days in a row,” said Perrone. “It went from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for two days, and one day was 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. It was well worth it.”
Perrone said the R.A.D. course’s participants should bring sneakers, comfortable clothing and water.
“The physical piece of it can definitely be tiring,” said Perrone.
Herook said Community Schools will be looking to offer more R.A.D. classes in the future.
“We are going to be offering this again, so this won’t be a one shot deal,” said Herook. “We will definitely offer it in the fall since we are winding down at the end of the year.”
Herook thanked Perrone for proposing the R.A.D. System course. “I am so glad Michelle had the initiative to do this,” she said.
For more information about the R.A.D. course, visit https://sites.google.com/lynnfield.k12.ma.us/community-schools or call Herook at 781-334-5814.
