[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 363 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 363

 Recognizing the achievements of SUPERB (Students United with Parents 
 and Educators to Resolve Bullying) and its founders Jeremy and Sharon 
    Ring to address the growing problem of bullying in the Nation's 
                                schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 9, 2003

     Mr. Wexler (for himself and Mr. Shaw) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the achievements of SUPERB (Students United with Parents 
 and Educators to Resolve Bullying) and its founders Jeremy and Sharon 
    Ring to address the growing problem of bullying in the Nation's 
                                schools.

Whereas according to a 2001 survey funded by the National Institute of Child 
        Health and Human Development (NICHHD), bullying is widespread in schools 
        in the United States, with more than 16 percent of school children 
        saying they have been bullied by other students during the current term;
Whereas according to the School Psychologist Association, 160,000 American youth 
        skip school every day fearing they will be a target of bullies;
Whereas according to researchers, bullies and their victims are more likely than 
        others to develop depression and suicidal thoughts in life and are at a 
        higher risk of becoming felons and domestic abusers;
Whereas according to a study by the National Threat Assessment Center run by the 
        United States Secret Service, two-thirds of the 41 youths involved in 
        school shootings since 1974 said they had been bullied at school and 
        that revenge was one of their motives;
Whereas resolving bullying today will have long-lasting societal effects well 
        into the lives of future generations;
Whereas Students United with Parents and Educators to Resolve Bullying (SUPERB) 
        is a curriculum designed by experienced educators at Nova Southeastern 
        University's Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Fort 
        Lauderdale, Florida, that teaches students to work together to overcome 
        the epidemic of bullying by educating students, teachers, and parents 
        that teasing and tormenting peers cannot be tolerated in the school 
        community;
Whereas SUPERB is a program that works with community leaders and seeks not only 
        to identify bullies and victims, but rather to transform the existing 
        social contract that allows bullying and interpersonal violence to occur 
        within schools;
Whereas SUPERB's purpose is to raise awareness and intervene at multiple levels 
        by targeting students, parents, educators, and members of the local 
        community to understand the ``life-long'' consequences of bullying;
Whereas SUPERB initially intends to target elementary and middle school students 
        to try to form their attitudes as early as possible, thereby attempting 
        to halt the problem of bullying, and high school students will also be 
        used as volunteers;
Whereas SUPERB launched a 6-school pilot program in September 2003, in Broward 
        County, Florida, which is the third largest accredited school system in 
        the Nation;
Whereas SUPERB has worked with the Broward County Board of Education and 
        superintendent to select 6 schools from areas with diverse financial 
        backgrounds to participate in the pilot program, and all 6 schools will 
        be staffed with master's and doctoral level students from Nova 
        Southeastern University's Family Therapy and Conflict Resolution 
        programs;
Whereas SUPERB will also ensure regular correspondence with parents of the 
        children in the pilot programs to educate them about SUPERB's goals and 
        curriculum and to update them on the progress of their children;
Whereas SUPERB will leverage the vast resources of Nova Southeastern University 
        as well as local businesses and media outlets to ensure that children 
        receive awards for excellence within the pilot program; and
Whereas, because bullying is a health risk, by resolving it now, SUPERB's 
        program is intended to decrease rates of depression and addiction later 
        in life, and additionally, aims to curb criminal violence by training 
        children early in life that tormenting others is not acceptable 
        behavior: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends Students United with Parents and Educators to 
        Resolve Bullying (SUPERB), and its founders Jeremy and Sharon 
        Ring and Nova Southeastern University for their steadfast 
        commitment to end bullying; and
            (2) supports SUPERB's curriculum, which teaches students to 
        work together to overcome the epidemic of bullying and uses a 
        comprehensive program that educates all members of the 
        community, to include the students, parents, and teachers.
                                 <all>