Tom Harkin: “one of our greatest national priorities is ensuring that all students in all schools are in settings that are safe…”

“one of our greatest national priorities is ensuring that all students in all schools are in settings that are safe; classrooms that support learning; situations that ensure our children will be successful. To be a successful student, to be a contributing citizen to our democracy, to be prepared for college and the workforce of tomorrow, our students need to be of sound mind, of sound body, and have access to resources that will support their success. Students who travel to school safely; who attend classes in structurally sound buildings where the adults model positive teamwork and collaboration skills; where good nutrition is available and where opportunities for physical activity are available and expected; where they have a safe, supportive social environment, students who have all of these conditions in their schools will be prepared to achieve high academic standards. In a country where almost one in every five children is obese, where thousands of students are bullied and harassed daily, and where access to high-quality mental and physical health care is limited, students must have these basic conditions for learning in order to be successful. While the Department of Justice reports that the rate of serious incidents of school violence continue to decline, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, bullying remains a pervasive problem that affects almost one in four students each year.…”