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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, There are many competing theories on why violence
3plagues our nation and why mass shooters repeatedly target our
4schools; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Many acts of violence begin with feelings of
6detachment, desolation, and isolation; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Part of the shock of any mass shooting is the
8helplessness we all feel afterwards; and
 
9    WHEREAS, It is critical for children to have relationships
10and be connected with adults and other children, and many
11children are missing these powerful connections and
12relationships outside of school; and
 
13    WHEREAS, These children may be in danger of slipping
14through the cracks and may resort to violence to be heard; and
 
15    WHEREAS, A greeting, a smile, or a show of genuine concern
16for a disconnected student can make a difference in that
17child's life; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Know Me, Know My Name movement is an effort by
19educators to identify individual students in a school who have

 

 

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1"little to no" connections with staff or others; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The Know Me, Know My Name movement is an effort to
3build relationships between disconnected youth and educators,
4and in the process, realize better attendance and increase
5academic success; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In the San Juan, California School District, where
7this was implemented, they found that student attendance
8increased and grades improved; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Know Me, Know My Name movement is a cost-free
10way for educators to identify and make contact with children
11who are in danger of slipping through the cracks at school; and
 
12    WHEREAS, A Know Me, Know My Name plan can be carried out
13during an existing school in-service; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After disconnected students are identified,
15teachers and other school officials make a concerted effort to
16establish connections with these children; and
 
17    WHEREAS, These connections will help to lead away from
18violence and toward compassion, kindness, connection,
19community, and resilience and may save lives in the process;
20therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage all school
3districts in Illinois to adopt a Know Me, Know My Name plan to
4identify disconnected youth in their schools and start on a
5path to build relationships with those children that leads away
6from violence and toward compassion and belonging.