[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE RESPECT CLUB FOSTERS PRIDE IN SELF, COMMUNITY, AND COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 1997

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, we spend a lot of time on the floor of 
Congress talking about the importance of community, education, and this 
Nation's greatest resource, our young people. And believe me, that's 
important. But in reality, the real progress that is made toward 
educating and protecting our youth is made outside Washington, by the 
families, civic groups, towns, and schools that make up communities all 
across this country. And low and behold, I was fortunate enough to find 
out about just such a great program that incorporates all of these 
elements right in the heart of my congressional district in upstate New 
York.
  I'm talking about an extracurricular program at Shenendehowa High 
School that draws on the community and parents, faculty and 
administrators, and most importantly, the students. Their focus is on 
one of the most important things we can teach our young people, mutual 
respect. The RESPECT Club at Shenendehowa is in its fourth year and has 
made great strides in demonstrating to our young people the importance 
of respecting individual preferences, rights, needs, and self-worth. In 
a day of age when our young people have become more and more 
sophisticated, they have also become exposed to new hardships and 
pressures that wear heavily on their psyche and self-esteem. This club 
and its young participants have played an active role in raising the 
awareness and the ability of their fellow students to cope with many of 
these grave problems and help one another at the same time. They have 
focused on such serious societal problems as eating disorders, teen 
pregnancy, suicide, depression, and dating violence.
  Now how do they go about getting the attention and respect of their 
peers and surrounding communities? By sponsoring events that encourage 
student and community-wide involvement like their fourth annual arts 
festival.
  What better way, Mr. Speaker, to foster greater understanding and 
cooperation between individuals than through a program encouraging 
participation in the arts. Their festival highlights student 
participation in the performing arts, like musical and theatrical 
performances, and the recitation of literature, poetry, and essays, not 
to mention displaying visual art like paintings, photography, and 
sculpture. And even better, the RESPECT Club's all-day art festival has 
attracted 500 participants, not to mention the support of the school 
faculty, administrators, and parents.
  I couldn't have thought of a better way to emphasize to both young 
and old alike the value and importance of standing up and taking action 
to improve your local community. Programs like this do wonders for 
individual self-esteem but also to promote virtues like pride in 
community, volunteerism, and the sense of civic duty that has made 
America the greatest nation on earth.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and all Members of the 
House rise with me and pay tribute to all the members, past and 
present, of Shenendehowa's RESPECT Club on the occasion of their annual 
arts festival coming up on Friday, March 7, 1997. I would also ask that 
each of us take heed of their message because we tend to lose sight of 
it from time to time ourselves here in Congress. As the RESPECT Club 
says, Mr. Speaker, respect is earned through: The power to respect 
ourselves, our body, mind and spirit, the openness and acceptance 
needed to respect differences and individuality, and the will to take 
time to make a difference in someone's life.

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