[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12562-S12563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL SAVE SCHOOLS FROM VIOLENCE DAY

 Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I have spoken several times this 
year about the need for our Nation to address juvenile violence. Today, 
I would like to commend another group that has joined the call to end 
violence. The American Medical Association Alliance has designated 
today as National SAVE Schools from Violence Day, and I would like to 
praise their efforts.
  The AMA Alliance SAVE (Stop America's Violence Everywhere) campaign 
began in 1995 and comprises a grassroots effort of 700 local and state-
level projects to curb violence. Through the campaign, the Alliance has 
created unique workbooks and activities for use as conflict resolution 
tools in classrooms across the country. One of their themes, Hands are 
not for hitting, catches children's attention by challenging them to 
come up with other uses for their hands. Rather than seeing their hands 
as weapons, children are reminded that their hands can be used for 
hugging, collecting bugs or coloring with crayons.
  Another campaign theme, I Can Choose, teaches children that they can 
choose their attitudes and behavior. Other projects including I Can Be 
Safe and Be a Winner have been distributed nationwide.
  Using its Hands are not for hitting campaign and others like it, the 
AMA is working to call attention to school safety and the way children 
interact. Nationally, the AMA hopes to reach 1 million children by the 
year 2000 with activities that help them manage anger and build self-
esteem. This type of private sector involvement represents a key 
building block in our nation's commitment to providing a safe learning 
environment for our children.

[[Page S12563]]

  Many of my colleagues know that I introduced the Safe Schools Act of 
1999 to provide resources to public schools so they can remain safe and 
strong cornerstones of our communities. As we move into the 21st 
century, we must adapt our approach to education to meet the changing 
needs of students, teachers and parents.
  Although I am one of the youngest members of the Senate, I grew up in 
Helena, Arkansas during what seemed to be a much simpler time. Our 
parents pulled together to make everyone's education experience a 
success. Students came to school prepared to learn. Teachers had 
control of their classroom. The threat of school violence was virtually 
non-existent.
  Now, more than twenty years later, things are different--very 
different. Our children are subjected to unprecedented social stresses 
including divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, poverty and an 
explosion of technology that has good and bad uses.
  These stresses exhibit themselves in the behavior of teenagers, as 
well as in our young children. Increasingly, elementary school children 
exhibit symptoms of substance abuse, academic underachievement, 
disruptive behavior, and even suicide.
  Although school shootings will probably not occur in a majority of 
our schools, each time we witness a tragedy like Jonesboro or 
Littleton, it makes us wonder if the next incident will be in our own 
home towns.
  This is a very complex problem and there is no one single answer. It 
will take more than metal detectors and surveillance cameras to prevent 
the tragedies occurring in our schools. I believe the Safe Schools Act 
reflects the needs and wishes of students, parents, teachers and school 
administrators.
  Unfortunately, there are not nearly enough mental health 
professionals working in our nation's schools. The American School 
Health Association recommends that the student-to-counselor ratio be 
250:1. In secondary schools, the current ratio is 513:1. In elementary 
schools, the student-to-teacher ratio exceeds 1000:1.
  Students today bring more to school than backpacks and lunchboxes--
many of them bring severe emotional troubles. It is critical that 
schools be able to help our troubled students by teaching children new 
skills to cope with their aggression.
  So, I commend the AMA Alliance for designating today as National SAVE 
Schools from Violence Day and encourage students, teachers, parents and 
the community to work together to make our schools safe.

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