IV 

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; 
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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 
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•HRES 363 IH 

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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends Students United with Parents 

3 and Educators to Resolve Bullying (SUPERB), and 
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1 its founders Jeremy and Sharon Ring and Nova 

2 Southeastern University for their steadfast commit3 ment to end bullying; and 

4 (2) supports SUPERB’s curriculum, which 

5 teaches students to work together to overcome the 

6 epidemic of bullying and uses a comprehensive pro7 gram that educates all members of the community, 

8 to include the students, parents, and teachers.

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