By Swinford                                            H.R. No. 676

         75R12576 JTR-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On April 25, 1997, Russian educator Vladimir

 1-2     Skovorodnikov will be at the State Capitol as part of his visit to

 1-3     the Lone Star State, and it is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to

 1-4     welcome this noteworthy visitor at this time; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The chairman of the Committee of Education of the

 1-6     Altai Public School Region in Siberia, Mr. Skovorodnikov oversees a

 1-7     school district roughly the size of the State of Texas, including

 1-8     two major universities, 3,600 public schools, 60,000 teachers, and

 1-9     430,000 students; and

1-10           WHEREAS, A graduate of the Russian teachers' college known as

1-11     the Pedagogical Institute, Mr. Skovorodnikov worked in high schools

1-12     for several years before his promotion to chairman in 1988, and in

1-13     the course of his career he has gained a reputation as a bold

1-14     educational reformer; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Mr. Skovorodnikov has steadfastly supported the

1-16     teaching of the Bible in the public schools, and although he

1-17     pursued this approach to education at great professional risk, his

1-18     efforts are now seeing fruition as Biblical scholarship has become

1-19     a feature of education in the Altai region; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Vladimir Skovorodnikov has distinguished himself as

1-21     a gifted educator, an astute administrator, and a courageous

1-22     reformer, and his many accomplishments are indeed worthy of special

1-23     praise and recognition; now, therefore, be it

1-24           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-1     Legislature hereby honor Vladimir Skovorodnikov for his

 2-2     achievements as an educator and extend to him a warm welcome on the

 2-3     occasion of his visit to the State Capitol; and, be it further

 2-4           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 2-5     prepared for Mr. Skovorodnikov as an expression of high regard by

 2-6     the Texas House of Representatives.