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.