This is my experience with Coventry-Stellhorn-Dupont Taekwondo schools in Fort Wayne. The three are evidently connected, testing is done together. I am a multi-racial parent who took my children to one of these schools, took advancement classes and tests at others. I was emotionally disturbed because of what I truly felt to be some kind of a bias. Hence the review.\r
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My kids had earlier training at a different place before my job transfer brought me to Fort Wayne, IN. We went to one of the schools with high hopes. I kept my patience with everything for some time only to be supportive of my children's enthusiasm in taekwondo. Finally took my hurt and demotivated children out because of the not so positive experience. \r
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This is my experience and observation. I'm coming out, as it is about many kids like mine and their healthy development. What can motivate them to grow up to be good Samaritans when their trust is broken at a young age based on factors that God only controls?! I do not intend to hurt anyone or be negative on the internet. I'm a responsible parent of young kids who do not 'LOOK' like the Majority, I very much care for their safety therefore this anonymity. \r
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I'm sure other parents and sensible readers understand my position. My observation and participation in the schools' testings and other activities strongly tell me that these schools give priority to students based on certain factors only openly known to the owners and administrations. Be assured, our law doesn't approve of these factors. If you are one of the parents reading this, it would be useful to carefully watch how certain things are done. \r
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My kids loved everything about taekwondo. They were really eager. Every time they had a question they were hushed. Sometime the reasons given were 'you did not raise your hand before talking' 'you wiggle too much' 'you are too loud' 'that is not the right way' 'you are smelling' 'do not interfere' and so on... While discipline is essential to the training this bias was quite blatantly visible. It doesn't take too much to demotivate kids, does it? I had heard good things about their weapons and sparring training. Unfortunately wasn't the case with my kids. \r
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The schools didn't say it, but now I feel they are mostly run by the family, for the family, where \r
families of the instructors and close circle of certain people are taught and promoted. If this is the set up, the school should make it clear to parents like me. Why would we burden them with our kids? We love our kids, dignity and our money.\r
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Their board breaking arrangement is whacky. Some of the holders held boards in such a way the boards wouldn't break even with a Grizzly kicking, punching at it. What was whackier was the choice of kids sent to these stations. As a parent time and again I tried really hard to make sense out of the whole board holding mess. Many parents had the same concern. \r
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Some instructors in schools are well trained in Taekwondo, unfortunately they lack the patience to teach all kids the same way. They talked nice to my kids the only when I was watchful. Whenever I was watching, my kids were called out and appreciated. However, when my wife and I weren't watching our kids, it was a different ballgame.\r
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I'm thankful I got out before it was too much. I only wish the schools become more open, tolerant and less biased. Can only hope this review helps them reflect. God bless all the students and parents. MLKs DREAM still seems distant.
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