The first rule of fight club is, you do not talk about fight club, but it’s all the chatter at Brookswood Secondary School right now, after teachers discovered some students have formed a fight club of their own.
A letter was sent out to parents on Thursday (Oct. 6) from Brookswood Secondary principal Marcello Moino, explaining that there could be as many as 20 Grade 9 or 10 boys involved in “their own private boxing club or ‘fight club.’”
“While we don’t know the specifics of who is involved, the rumours we have heard are that this is happening outside of school time; it is happening in a private backyard or residence; there are as many as 20 Grade 9 or 10 boys involved; and the boys are attempting to be organized by having rules, wearing gloves (apparently hockey gloves), and having a ‘draw’ system,” the letter says.
The school issued the letter to make parents aware that the fights were occurring, and to warn them of the dangers for the students involved.
Specifically, teachers are worried the boys may get hurt and trying to hide their injuries from their parents — especially potential concussions — and that whoever is hosting the event, whether they are aware it is going on or not, could face potential liabilities if someone is hurt.
According to the letter, the Langley School District is “working to identify some community groups” where the students can practise safe, licensed forms of boxing.
“Ultimately, this is one of those issues that, while it is happening off of school grounds and on the students’ own time, I know that, as a parent myself, I would want to know if my son were involved,” Moino said in the letter.
The Times has also come across videos posted on YouTube of the fights. The videos, featuring rap music in the background, show the students laughing as they box each other on a front lawn. The students all appear to be wearing hockey gloves, with some wearing hockey helmets as well.