[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 161 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 161

Recognizing the achievements of Operation Respect, the ``Don't Laugh At 
                    Me'' programs, and Peter Yarrow.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2003

Mr. George Miller of California (for himself, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Obey, 
 Mr. Frost, Mr. Grijalva, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. 
Andrews, Mr. Pallone, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Wu, 
  Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Holt, Mr. Boswell, Ms. Schakowsky, and Mr. Moore) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                     on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the achievements of Operation Respect, the ``Don't Laugh At 
                    Me'' programs, and Peter Yarrow.

Whereas Operation Respect is a non-profit organization engaged in a national 
        effort to transform after-school programs and children's summer camps 
        into more compassionate and respectful environments through its ``Don't 
        Laugh At Me'' program materials that address the issues of emotional and 
        physical violence among children;
Whereas Operation Respect has conducted 230 workshops, reaching over 18,000 
        educators in 27 states and distributing 50,000 copies of its 
        professionally-developed curriculum;
Whereas Peter Yarrow, musician, member of the musical group Peter, Paul and 
        Mary, and social activist, created the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' initiative 
        and has appeared before over 240 educational organizations in 36 states 
        on behalf of Operation Respect, as well as before the Republican 
        Conference and Democratic Caucus of the United States House of 
        Representatives;
Whereas the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' program increases mutual respect and 
        fellowship among hundreds of thousands of elementary school children, 
        creating an environment for students that improves focus on their 
        schoolwork and encourages social and emotional growth;
Whereas the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' camp programs have made the environment at 
        summer camps safer and more secure for children by creating a greater 
        sense of empathy, tolerance, and compassion;
Whereas the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs have made a significant impact on 
        schools and camps through a curriculum of character education and social 
        and emotional learning;
Whereas the overwhelming majority of students participating in a recent survey 
        concluded that the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' program was a valuable and 
        beneficial experience and resulted in increased tolerance and acceptance 
        by other students, a diminution of negative behaviors such as bullying, 
        and increased openness and trust;
Whereas counselors and campers alike who participated in the ``Don't Laugh At 
        Me'' programs agreed that the programs were effective, enjoyable, and 
        positively influenced the social and emotional growth of the children;
Whereas the success of Operation Respect and the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' programs 
        has been recognized by the National Conference of State Legislatures and 
        major educational associations, including the National Association of 
        Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary 
        School Principals, the American Association of School Administrators, 
        the Council of Great City Colleges of Education, the National Education 
        Association, the Council of Great City Schools, the American School 
        Counselors Association, the National School Boards Association, the 
        National Middle School Association, and the American Federation of 
        Teachers; and
Whereas the National Conference of State Legislatures passed a resolution on 
        August 12, 2001, encouraging funding and other support from States for 
        professional development of educators in this arena and recognizing the 
        contributions of Operation Respect in advancing State legislative 
        initiatives to expand social and emotional learning and character 
        education programs: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That Operation Respect, the ``Don't Laugh At Me'' 
programs, and Peter Yarrow are commended for their major contributions 
to the sound emotional development, personal growth, and physical 
safety of children throughout the United States.
                                 <all>