ACEI approves new resolutions.

The following resolutions were passed at the 2002 ACEI Annual
Conference and Exhibition:

RESOLUTION ON CHILDREN AND WAR

Whereas ACEI is an international organization, and
Whereas members worldwide are committed to improving the lives
  of children and young adolescents, and
Whereas weapons of war maim and kill children and young adolescents
  in places that should be safe, such as homes, schools, and
  religious institutions, and
Whereas war impacts children and young adolescents and their
  families in negative ways, and
Whereas children and young adolescents are taught using curricular
  material filled with hate, suspicion, and untruths, and
Whereas ACEI has taken a strong stance against war,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

ACEI and its members will diligently work to promote peace
  through local advocacy, and
ACEI will promote respect for all human life and place value on the
  understanding of cultural differences, and
ACEI will recognize the importance of educating children to become
  tomorrow's keepers of the world, and
ACEI will encourage that the role of children not be that of child
  soldiers, nor to take part in hostilities, but work to ensure safe
  and unhindered access to children affected by armed conflict and
  giving emphasis to education and family reunification, and
ACEI will work to promote a society that supports peaceful existence.

RESOLUTION ON STANDARDIZED TESTING

Whereas ACEI is a leader in the field of education, and
Whereas ACEI believes in the holistic education of all children and
  young adolescents, and
Whereas governments continue to place heavy emphasis on standardized
  testing, and
Whereas the ACEI position paper "On Standardized Testing" supports
  teacher-directed assessment to understand the growth of individual
  children and calls for a moratorium on standardized testing,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

ACEI will encourage educators to continue to provide child-centered
  appropriate curriculum and assessment for all children
  and young adolescent students, and
ACEI will encourage educators to advocate for their right to execute
  educational practices that are consistent with their professional
  beliefs, practices, and training, and
ACEI will continue to promote alternate assessment of children and
  young adolescents through observation, conversation, and holistic
  forms of assessment, and
ACEI will support classrooms that encourage students to make
  connections and to develop greater thoughtfulness and deeper
  thinking.

RESOLUTION ON THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC

Whereas ACEI is concerned with the welfare of all children and
  young adolescents, and
Whereas ACEI is devoted to the adequate care of all children and
  young adolescents, and
Whereas the HIV/AIDS pandemic has a devastating effect on children,
  young adolescents, and their care providers--including 13
  million children orphaned by AIDS, and 600,000 infants infected
  every year through mother-to-child transmission, and
Whereas there are millions of HIV-positive children and young
  adolescents without access to adequate medical services or
  counseling,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

ACEI will continue to provide information and updates on the HIV/
  AIDS pandemic, and
ACEI will work with partners to ensure that children and young
  adolescents have access to accurate medical information, education,
  and services necessary to develop life skills that will help
  reduce the risk of HIV infection, and
ACEI will seek out opportunities to collaborate with other educational
  organizations and agencies to ensure that accessible and
  affordable health care and health services are provided for all
  children and young adolescents, and
ACEI will continue to promote the role of the family in reducing
  vulnerability through education and guidance, and
ACEI will work with other non-governmental organizations
  (NGOs) and UNICEF to combat, through urgent and aggressive
  action, the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on children
  and young adolescents.

RESOLUTION ON 2002 ACEI ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE

Whereas ACEI as an organization promotes collegiality among
  membership, and
Whereas the Local Conference Committee and Headquarters
  staff have invested and expended commitment, time, energy,
  and other resources to the 2002 Association for Childhood
  Education International Annual International Conference
  & Exhibition, and
Whereas the membership benefits greatly from this successfully
  planned and implemented conference,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

ACEI and its membership extends its sincere thanks and appreciation
to the Local Conference Committee and Headquarters
staff on the 2002 ACEI Annual International Conference and
Exhibition.