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October 5, 1998
Dear Friend
of America's Children:
I am pleased
that you and your organization are joining the nationwide effort to create
safer environments for our children by participating in our White House
Conference on School Safety -- Causes and Prevention of Youth Violence.
The conference will take place on Thursday, October 15, 1998, and I hope
that you will use this opportunity to engage your community in confronting
this challenging problem and finding solutions.
While schools
are still among the safest places for America's young people, we know that
violent crime continues to plague a number of our schools. We also know
that the problems children face in school often reflect the problems of
their communities: drugs, gangs, and guns, on the street and even in their
homes. Solving these problems will call for the best effort from each of
us -- from schools and teachers, parents and families, law enforcement
officials and religious and community organizations. The federal government
must also be an active partner.
At the White
House Conference on School Safety, we will listen to and learn from students
themselves and from parents, teachers, law enforcement, and other experts
about efforts to keep our children safe in their schools and communities.
We will build on the existing body of knowledge about young people and
aggressive or violent behavior. We will share best practices and explore
new solutions, and we will highlight strategies to put these models into
practice nationwide.
Local events
like yours are being developed across the country to underscore the importance
of schools, communities, and families working together to create safer
learning environments for our young people. You will have the opportunity
to link via satellite to my live address when I issue the first Annual
Report on School Safety; to a roundtable discussion on school and youth
violence with the Vice President, the First Lady, Mrs. Gore, and me; and
to a roundtable discussion, led by the First Lady, highlighting successful
initiatives for creating safer schools and communities.
When our children's
safety is at stake, we must take action -- and we all must do our part.
I thank you for participating in this important event and for making a
positive contribution to the future of America's children.
Sincerely,
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