Date: 2003-04-29
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker. I am very pleased that* the House of Representatives today is considering my resolution to honor the outstanding program that is working with school districts. camps. teachers. and students across America to promote the healthy social and emotional development of children. I want to thank the gentleman from California for his cosponsorship of this legislation and for his own strong support of Operation Respect. The gentleman from California was responsible for arranging for Peter Yarrow to visit the Republican Conference last year to talk about this program and to sing some of the songs. an achievement that deserves recognition in the House as well. I also want to thank my cosponsors for their support of this resolution. particularly the gentleman from Wisconsin . who is a strong supporter of character education programs in the LaborHHS appropriations bill in recent years. Lastly. I thank the gentleman from Ohio and his staff for their assistance in having this resolution placed before the House expeditiously. Most of us here are familiar with the "Dont Laugh At Me" program. Last year. its founder and tireless advocate. Peter Yarrow of the legendary trio Peter. Paul and Mary. spoke to both the Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus about the necessity for. and the success of. this program. Many of us have seen him as he has appeared before dozens of school boards. teacher organizations. parents groups throughout this Nation promoting sound emotional development and tolerance among our children. We are all painfully aware of the images. language and experiences of children that assault their selfesteem. their attitudes toward others and their sense of compassion and tolerance. From bullying in the schoolyards to the lyrics of many popular songs. to the violence in film and news broadcasts. young children in our society. and adults too. are assaulted by messages and images of intolerance. brutality. victimization. and bias. Any reasonable person must be concerned about the impact of those values on these young children. now and throughout their lives. And we were concerned that they be taught alternative values that help us build closer personal relationships and stronger communities. Fortunately. there are efforts and institutions that are effectively promoting positive values and respect. tolerance and understanding and compassion. Our churches and synagogues play that role. Programs like Head Start and afterschool programs and sports and cultural experiences heavily influence children as well. The character education programs that this Congress has been funding in recent years have similarly made great contributions. One of the innovations enjoying great popularity and success and which we honor today by the passage of this resolution is Operation Respect. Through the diligent efforts of Peter Yarrow and many educators. psychologists and advocates that work with him. Operation Respect has conducted over 230 workshops throughout the Nation reaching over 18.000 educators in 27 States. Tens of thousands of copies of its professionally developed curriculum have been distributed to teachers in afterschool programs and camp operators and others who are similarly committed to making a difference in the lives of these children. Teachers love this program and have given it their strong endorsement. And today we should add the United States House of Representatives to that list saluting this great effort on behalf of Americas children and Americas best values. Lastly. I would like to note that Steve Seskin. the composer of the song "Dont Laugh At Me." which has inspired Mr. Yarrows efforts. is a resident of my congressional district. Mr. Seskin is a very highly respected composer and recording artist as well in the folk and country venues. and in this case his music has helped to inspire a movement that is having dramatic and beneficial effects on millions of young Americans. And I appreciate the support of all Members of this House on the resolution. Madam Speaker. I am very pleased that the House of Representatives today is considering my resolution to honor an outstanding program that is working with school districts. camps. teachers and students across America to promote the health social and emotional development of children. I want to thank DUKE CUNNINGHAM for his cosponsorship of this legislation and for his own strong support for Operation respect. Congressman CUNNINGHAM was responsible for arranging for Peter Yarrow to visit the Republican Conference last year to talk about this program and sing a few songs. and that achievement deserves the recognition of the House as well. I also want to thank my other cosponsors for their support for this Resolution. and particularly. Mr. OBEY for his strong support of character education programs and the LaborHHS appropriations bill in recent years. Lastly. my thanks to Chairman JOHN BOEHNER and his staff for their assistance in having this Resolution placed before the House expeditiously. Most of us are already familiar with the "Dont Laugh At Me" program. Last year. its founder and tireless advocate. Peter Yarrow of the legendary trio Peter. Paul and Mary. spoke to both the Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus about the necessity for. and the success of. this program. Many of us have seen him as he has also appeared before dozens of school boards. teacher organizations. parent groups and others throughout the nation promoting sound emotional development and tolerance among out children. We all are painfully aware of the images. language and experiences of children that assault their selfimage. their attitudes towards others. and their sense of compassion and tolerance. From bullying in school yards to the lyrics of many popular songs to violence in film and news broadcasts. young children in our societyand adults. tooare assaulted by messages and images of intolerance. brutality. victimization and bias. Any reasonable person must be concerned about the impact of those values on these young people now and throughout their lives. and we are concerned that they be taught alternative values that help us to build closer personal relationships and stronger communities. These concerns have great immediacy. Just last week. there was yet another example of terrible school violence. A study of school violence in California recently concluded that "alienated and disatfected young people are escaping the attention of families. friends and teachers until they explode." Meanwhile. programs like boot camps. may enjoy public approval but consume huge amounts of money and do not have a record of success. Fortunately. there are efforts and Institutions that are effectively promoting positive values of respect. tolerance. understanding and compassion. Our churches and synagogues play that role. programs like Head Start and afterschool programs and sports and cultural experiences heavily influence children as well. The character education programs that this Congress has been funding in recent years have similarly made great contributions. One of the innovations that has enjoyed great popularity and success. and which we honor today by the passage of this resolution. is Operation Respect. Through the diligent efforts of Peter Yarrow and many other educators. psychologists and advocates who work with him. Operation Respect has conducted 230 workshops throughout the nation. reaching over 18.000 educators in 27 states. Tens of thousands of copies of its professionallydeveloped curriculum have been distributed to teachers. afterschool programs. camp operators and others who are similarly committed to making a difference in the lives of these children. As H. Res. 161 states. the "Dont Laugh At Me" program "increases mutual respect and fellowship among hundreds of thousands of elementary school children. creating an environment for students that improves focus on their schoolwork and encourages social and emotional growth." Evaluations of the program have found overwhelming support for its message among teachers. parents and students alike. as well as increased tolerance and a reduction in such negative behaviors such as bullying. Among professional educators and others. Operation Respect has enjoyed similar popularity. Operation Respect and the "Dont Laugh At Me" program has been recognized by the National Conference of State Legislatures. the National Association of Elemrentary School Principals. the National Association of Secondary School Principals. the American Association of School Administrators. the Council of Great City Colleges and Education. the National Education Association. the Council of Great City Schools. the American School Counselors Association. the National School Boards Association. the National Middle School Association. and the American Federation of Teachers. Teachers love this program. heres a representative comments from a teacher in southwestern Virginia: Over the years I have used many approaches and programs. all of which have good points. "Dont Laugh At Me" encompasses all those strong points into one easy to use program. Ive seen a difference in my class even though we have only used it for a few months. One of the biggest benefits is the dialog that comes from using the~program. The kids love the CD and found the video to be very powerful. Now that I have had a chance to use "Dont Laugh At Me" and see its benefits. I will be doing a presentation to our staff about it. I guess I sound like a commercial. but I honestly loves this programl Today. we should add the United States House of Representatives to that list saluting this great effort on behalf of Americas children and Americas best values. Lastly. I would like to note that Steve Seskin. the composer of the song "Dont Laugh At Me" which inspired Mr. Yarrows efforts. is a resident of my Congressional district. Mr. Seskin Is a very highly respected composer and recording artist. well known in the folk and country venues. and in this case. his music has helped to inspire a movement that is having dramatic and beneficial effects on millions of young Americans. I appreciate the support of all Members for this Resolution today. Madam Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.