[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page S2035]]
SENATE RESOLUTION 53--TO DESIGNATE ``NATIONAL SCHOOL VIOLENCE VICTIMS'
MEMORIAL DAY''
By Mr. HUTCHINSON (for himself, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Specter, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr.
DeWine, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Helms, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Murkowski, Mr.
Abraham, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Grams, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Enzi, Mr.
Wellstone, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Reid, Mr. Robb, Mr.
Biden, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bingaman,
Mr. Baucus, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Levin, Mr. Sarbanes,
Mr. Burns, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Reed, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Campbell,
Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Kerrey,
Ms. Collins, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Lincoln, and Mr. Lieberman)
submitted the resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 53
Whereas approximately 10 percent of all public schools
reported at least 1 serious violent crime to a law
enforcement agency over the course of the 1996-97 school
year;
Whereas in 1996, approximately 225,000 students between the
ages of 12 and 18 were victims of nonfatal violent crime in
schools in the United States;
Whereas during 1992 through 1994, 76 students and 29 non-
students were victims of murders or suicides that were
committed in schools in the United States;
Whereas because of escalating school violence, the children
of the United States are increasingly afraid that they will
be attacked or harmed at school;
Whereas efforts must be made to decrease incidences of
school violence through an annual remembrance and prevention
education; and
Whereas the Senate encourages school administrators in the
United States to develop school violence awareness activities
and programs for implementation on March 24, 1999: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates March 24, 1999, as ``National School
Violence Victims' Memorial Day''; and
(2) requests the President to issue a proclamation
designating March 24, 1999, as ``National School Violence
Victims' Memorial Day'' and calling on the people of the
United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies
and activities.
Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution
which is very much related to the educational crisis in our country.
This resolution will designate March 24 as National School Violence
Victims' Memorial Day and encourage the citizens of our Nation to honor
and remember the victims of school violence on that day.
The resolution also will encourage our school administrators to
conduct programs on that day designed to prevent any further
occurrences of school violence.
I am deeply saddened that the introduction of such a resolution is
even necessary.
No words can ever adequately express the incredible shock, horror,
and grief that struck me when I heard the news reports of the tragedy
which left 5 dead and 11 wounded at the Westside Middle School in
Jonesboro, AR.
No words will ever be able to completely convey the cruel and
senseless loss that the families and friends of Natalie Brooks, Paige
Ann Herring, Stephanie Johnson, Brittheny Varner, and Shannon Wright
experienced on March 24, 1998.
And no words will ever be able to sufficiently honor Shannon Wright's
memory and her heroic sacrifice. I know that the actions she took to
protect her students at the cost of her own life will forever be
remembered. Her actions were motivated out of love for her students and
touched the lives of thousands of Arkansans, one of whom, Ms. Jennifer
Morris, a student in Harrisburg, AR, was so inspired by Ms. Wright's
loving and courageous sacrifice that she wrote and asked me to
introduce legislation which would create a National Shannon Wright Day.
Tragically, other communities, other families, and other friends know
the pain of such senseless losses as well.
Paducah, KY, Pearl, MS, Richmond, VA, Springfield, OR, Edinboro, PA,
are just a few of the communities that will forever remember the tragic
results of school violence.
According to the Departments of Education and Justice, over the
course of the 1996-1997 school year 10 percent of all public schools
reported at least one serious violent crime to a law enforcement
agency; and in 1996, 225,000 of our students between the ages of 12 and
18 were victims of nonfatal violent crime in our schools. Between 1992
and 1994, 76 students and 29 nonstudents lost their lives in murders or
suicides committed in American schools.
Finally, Mr. President, the percentage of our students who are afraid
that they will be attacked or harmed at school is rising dramatically.
I am not here today to discuss the causes and solutions to school
violence. Rather, I am simply here to honor and remember the victims of
school violence. Many of my colleagues who cosponsored this resolution
have differing approaches on what we do to solve the problem. Many have
different ideas on what the causes and solutions to school violence
are. However, we all agree that we must end this violence in our
classrooms and restore the peace that our children once had in their
hearts and are entitled to enjoy once again.
Accordingly, I now introduce this resolution to create National
School Violence Victims' Memorial Day to ensure that we remember and
that we honor those who have been victims of school violence and do all
that we can to remove violence from our schools and restore peace in
the hearts of our students.
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to co-sponsor a Senate
Resolution to designate March 24, 1999 as National School Violence
Victims Memorial Day.
Just last week I spoke to the Montana State Legislature and
introduced an education action plan, a major part of which is making
sure our kids are safe in America's schools. While I was home I saw
Steve Bullock. Steve works for our Attorney General, and every time I
see Steve I remember his step-brother, Jeremy.
You see, Jeremy was 11. He and his twin brother Joshua left for
school together as they always did. The day was April 12, 1994. Jeremy
didn't come home from school that day. He was shot and killed on the
playground, leaving a family and a community forever changed.
By recognizing March 24th as National School Violence Victims
Memorial Day we will be honoring the memory of Jeremy Bullock and
countless other children, families and communities by saying clearly,
with one voice that we as Americans will meet the challenge of
eradicating violence from our schools.
It is, in many ways a challenge to decide what kind of a people we
are. A challenge to stand up for peace and safety against violence and
hatred. This is about remembering the victims of school violence and it
is about what we are going to do in their names.
The easy reaction to this kind of senseless violence is to cast blame
and to turn our communities into one big episode of the Jerry Springer
show. But we have as a nation, more often than not, chosen what has
historically been the more difficult road. The road to peace through
dialogue, understanding and compassion. That is what National School
Violence Victims Memorial Day is all about.
Seventy five years ago, Mahatma Ghandi put it this way. He said ``I
discovered that pursuit of truth did not permit violence being
inflicted on one's opponent but that he must be weaned from error by
patience.''
We must use this day to teach and to learn. We must talk about the
225,000 victims of violent crime. We must act to make schools safer for
parents, teachers and students and we must learn from our mistakes.
And we are always learning. Learning the lessons of the past,
committed to using that knowledge to build a better tomorrow. So let us
enact this resolution, resolved to working together as one community of
people to make America a better place. A place where patience wins out
over bloodshed and where truth, as Ghandi said, does not permit
violence.
And let us always remember Jeremy Bullock. For though he is gone, his
memory will help fuel our work. When I think of Jeremy I am always
reminded of a poem called For The Fallen that goes this way:
They shall not grow old, as we that are left to grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will
remember them.
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