Senate Bill sb2590

    Florida Senate - 2002        (NP)                      SR 2590

    By Senator Lawson





    3-1334-02

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing September 2002 as Take

  3         Your Dad to School Month in this state.

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  5         WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Education published a

  6  study in 1998, entitled "Fathers' Involvement in Their

  7  Children's Schools," which revealed that children whose

  8  fathers participate in their school activities, when compared

  9  to children whose fathers do not, are more likely to get

10  higher grades, enjoy school, and participate in

11  extracurricular activities and less likely to have ever

12  repeated a grade or been suspended or expelled from school,

13  and

14         WHEREAS, one study has indicated that low parental

15  involvement was among the factors that increased the odds that

16  a child would engage in antisocial behaviors such as fighting,

17  lying, cheating, and criminal activity, and

18         WHEREAS, a 1999 poll discovered that 40.2 percent of

19  fathers never read to their children, fewer than half of

20  fathers between the ages of 25 and 44 knew the name of their

21  children's teachers, 32.4 percent had never attended a class

22  event or school meeting, 77 percent had never had lunch with

23  their children at school, and 58 percent had never volunteered

24  at their children's schools, and

25         WHEREAS, children who have the benefit of two

26  supportive parents, even if those parents are separated, are

27  less likely to live in poverty, drop out of school, or become

28  involved in delinquent behavior, are at lower risk for teen

29  pregnancy, and are less likely to become involved in an

30  abusive relationship, and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2002        (NP)                      SR 2590
    3-1334-02




  1         WHEREAS, children who have the benefit of a healthy,

  2  active relationship with their fathers are more likely to be

  3  well-adjusted in adolescence and adulthood, and

  4         WHEREAS, fathers are increasingly being encouraged by

  5  all segments of society to take an active part in their

  6  children's activities, and

  7         WHEREAS, children whose fathers are not present benefit

  8  from a relationship with nurturing and actively involved

  9  father figures, such as grandfathers, uncles, Big Brothers,

10  mentors, and significant others of their mothers, and

11         WHEREAS, men who are involved with their children feel

12  better about themselves and have greater success in their

13  careers and lives, NOW, THEREFORE,

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15  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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17         That September 2002 is recognized as Take Your Dad to

18  School Month in Florida and that the Senate extends its best

19  wishes to all children and their fathers for a most enjoyable

20  adventure.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.