[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2245-S2246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 478--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATION OF MARCH AS 
                     ``NATIONAL WHOLE CHILD MONTH''

  Mrs. HAGAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

[[Page S2246]]

                              S. Res. 478

       Whereas each student should be able to enter school healthy 
     and learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle;
       Whereas, according to the Institute of Medicine of the 
     National Academies, the percentage of overweight children 
     ages 6 to 11 years has doubled and the number of overweight 
     adolescents has tripled over the last 2 decades;
       Whereas each student should be able to learn in an 
     intellectually challenging environment that is physically and 
     emotionally safe;
       Whereas according to the Indicators of School Crime and 
     Safety report of 2009, 32 percent of middle and high school 
     students reported being bullied during the 2007 school year;
       Whereas each student should be able to be actively engaged 
     in learning and connected to the school and broader 
     community;
       Whereas a study on high school student engagement conducted 
     by the Center for Evaluation & Education Policy at the 
     Indiana University School of Education found that half of 
     high school students feel they are an important part of their 
     school community;
       Whereas each student deserves access to personalized 
     learning and to be supported by qualified, caring adults;
       Whereas the Indiana University study found that more than 
     20 percent of students reported that there is no adult at 
     their school who cares about them and knows them well;
       Whereas each graduate deserves to be challenged 
     academically and prepared for success in college or further 
     study and for employment in a global economy;
       Whereas according to the most recently published 
     information from the Condition of Education on the 
     availability of advanced courses in high schools in United 
     States, more than 25 percent of students do not have access 
     to a single advanced course in mathematics, English, science, 
     or foreign language in their high school;
       Whereas another student drops out every 9 seconds in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the objective of the ASCD whole child approach to 
     education ensures that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, 
     supported, and challenged; and
       Whereas March would be an appropriate month to designate as 
     ``National Whole Child Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of March as ``National Whole 
     Child Month'';
       (2) recognizes that ensuring all children are healthy, 
     safe, engaged, supported, and challenged is a national 
     priority; and
       (3) encourages parents, educators, and community members to 
     support and provide a whole child approach to education for 
     each student.

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