PRINTER'S NO. 4305
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
977
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY McCLINTON, SCHLOSSBERG, T. DAVIS, HILL-EVANS,
FREEMAN, DRISCOLL, ROZZI, ZABEL, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, KINSEY,
MADDEN, TOOHIL, McNEILL, KIM, MALAGARI, GREEN, READSHAW,
KORTZ, YOUNGBLOOD AND DEASY, AUGUST 28, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
AUGUST 28, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2020 as "Choose Love and
Compassion Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, We live in turbulent times in Pennsylvania and
across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence continues to plague our streets; and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of
roughly 170,000 of our family members, friends and neighbors
nationwide and has sickened millions more - with no end in
sight; and
WHEREAS, The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor
and countless other persons of color have caused this country
and the entire world to hold a mirror up to ourselves, determine
who we are as a society and what we want for our children and
demand racial justice once and for all; and
WHEREAS, Tensions in our communities are at a breaking point;
and
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WHEREAS, This is a critical moment for our nation and our
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Now is the moment to teach our young men and women
the importance of love and compassion in daily life; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, schools may establish and implement
a character education program to cover such topics as
trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness and caring -
traits that are needed for success in life; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Safe Schools and the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency have grant programs
available to school entities to address safety and security,
including the establishment of conflict resolution programs; and
WHEREAS, Elected officials should be encouraging schools to
institute programs on the importance of character and evidence-
based conflict resolution plans to teach the common values of
love, honesty, empathy and understanding in our communities; and
WHEREAS, By stressing these important values, we can help
stem the tide of violence in our schools and on our streets; and
WHEREAS, There are many different model programs that teach
character development and conflict resolution in our schools,
workplaces and communities; and
WHEREAS, The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement teaches
educators and their students how to choose love in any
circumstance and is built upon a simple formula: courage, plus
gratitude, plus forgiveness, plus compassion in action equals
"Choosing Love"; and
WHEREAS, Scarlett Lewis started this movement after her young
son was brutally murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in
Newtown, Connecticut in 2012; and
WHEREAS, "Choose Love" is a community-led movement offering
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free social and emotional learning to help people thoughtfully
respond to any situation or circumstance and teach children how
to manage their emotions, feel connected and have healthy
relationships; and
WHEREAS, Originally geared toward schools, "Choose Love" has
created extension programs to teach and help reinforce character
values outside of school, including on athletic teams, at home
and throughout communities; and
WHEREAS, "Teaching Tolerance" provides free resources to
educators that emphasize social justice and antibias in schools;
and
WHEREAS, "Character Counts!" is a comprehensive student
development program embracing academic, social and emotional
skills and traits, including the development of core ethical
traits - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness,
caring and citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Now more than ever, these programs should be
replicated in schools, workplaces and communities throughout
this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives should be exploring all
options to help stem the tide of violence in schools and
communities throughout this Commonwealth, while at the same time
preparing our young men and women for success later in life;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2020 as "Choose Love and Compassion Month" in
Pennsylvania to encourage the inclusion of character
development, ethics and conflict resolution programs in our
schools, workplaces and communities.
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