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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.