The Rome Free Academy took a stand with the teachers association funding an in-school grant to sponsor "The Crandall System" Level II which teaches escape techniques to teenage girls. This grant program was aimed at the senior girls becauese of their expressed interest in being prepared for the job and college market they were about to enter. Thanks to a great deal of preparation and planning by grant writer Judy Merren, this program went from an idea to a reality. Over ninety senior girls brought in permission slips from parents so they could take part in this program. Thanks to the physical education department class time as well as floor matts and the gym were ready early Tuesday morning for the enthusiastic group of senior girls.

Grand Master Crandall, with four of his Black Belt Instructors Miss Anne Petkovsek, Mrs. Cheryl Freleigh, Mrs. Maria Lindstrom and Mr. David Phillips presented the program. Members of the American Martial Arts Institute Junior Rank Demonstration Team assisted by demonstration and example.

The program offers escape as its key element and teaches a number of moves that allow an individual to do just that. Each student had the opportunity to practice and demonstrate the techniques shown with individual supervision as to how the techniques worked and why.

This program is available to schools by contacting Grand Master Crandall at the American Martial Arts Institute's main office at 1-315-768-1859.