Juvenile Fight Club

The reports are alarming. According to recent news reports, a teacher admitted to running a juvenile fight club. Here is an excerpt from an article from Pacific Coast News that I found on Bossip.

I understand that young men need an outlet. I even love the film Fight Club I am watching it now. However, young men who are still growing up should not be taking part in this. It isn't safe they have to learn how to control their temper. A fight club is an unhealthy outlet for young men that does not allow them to maturely address the issues in their life. You can't fight everyone. Here is the excerpt. Thoughts?

"A math and science teacher has admitted holding a real life ‘Fight Club’ for his teenage pupils – organizing brawls in class.

Stephen Wesley, 44, was arrested for staging fights between boys who he ‘matched’ for their size and strength.

Substitute teacher Wesley hand-picked picked students before letting them fight in class – often with their shirts off.

He would stand in the door of the class and watch out for passing teachers while the boxing-style bouts took place.

Wesley laid down certain ‘rules’ such as how long to fight for and instructed them to avoid blows to the face that would leave signs of injuries.

Prosecutors say his ‘Fight Club’ was inspired by the 1999 film starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton who held open brawl nights for men.

Wesley also urged his pupils not to discuss the fights using the iconic movie line – ‘The first rule of Fight Club is, you do not talk about Fight Club’.

Pasadena Courthouse in California heard he helped organize the fights while working as a teacher at a juvenile probation camp.

Wesley, of Winnetka, Illinois, was caught after some of the fights were caught on a security camera in August 2008.

He pleaded no contest to six felony child abuse charges and is expected to be jailed for 180 days when he is sentenced on April 15.

The incidents happened while he was an employee of the Los Angeles County Office of Education at the now-closed Camp Karl Holton in the San Fernando Valley.

He matched up boys from rival gangs of boys aged between 13 and 17 but after a video was found he immediately quit his role."

Via PacificCoastNews