SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1999-8647

By Senator Franklin, Roach, Fairley and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, Our society has so lowered its expectations of our children that simply not becoming a criminal is now viewed as an accomplishment worthy of praise; and

     WHEREAS, One of the main factors fostering those severely lowered expectations is the language we use to describe and ultimately label children who do not have the benefit of wealth; and

     WHEREAS, The term Aat-risk children@ is used with the best intentions by policymakers and others who care about children, but actually has the effect of lowering children=s self-esteem and expectations of themselves and their hopes for the future; and

     WHEREAS, By changing our terminology, we and the children we seek to help can change the way we perceive the possibilities that are available to all children with the proper support and encouragement; and

     WHEREAS, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Pierce County, led by Executive Director Gary Yazwa, and other community leaders have joined together to lead the way in rejecting the negative label of Aat-risk children@ in favor of the positive and universally applicable distinction of AKids at Hope@; and

     WHEREAS, This new terminology indicates that we as a society believe that every child brings to the world a unique set of talents and potential, and that the key to success is recognizing and building upon one=s talents; and

     WHEREAS, The AKids at Hope@ effort now includes a supplementary report card for students at Tacoma=s thirty-six elementary schools, which goes beyond academic performance to recognize students= other positive qualities; and

     WHEREAS, Through the AKids at Hope@ program, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pierce County and Tacoma schools are building up a new generation of positive, hopeful young people who set high standards and expectations for themselves;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby recognize and honor the AKids at Hope@ program, and the tremendous contributions being made to our state by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pierce County, led by Executive Director Gary Yazwa; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted immediately by the Secretary of the Senate to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pierce County and to the Tacoma Public School District.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1999-8647,

adopted by the Senate March 26, 1999.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate