HR0402 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0402 LRB094 12236 CSA 45888 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Fred Walk has served Normal Community High School (NCHS), the community of Bloomington-Normal, and the State of Illinois during his 33 years as a teacher of social science; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Walk has exceeded all teaching standards by challenging his students to think critically and globally about economics, history and geography; his teaching methods being so effective that he was able to teach economics suited for a college level in a way all students understood and appreciated; history came to life as Mr. Walk's history class researched and debated thoroughly some of the most difficult decisions that faced our nation and our humanity, such as civil rights, morality during war, and aid to impoverished countries; he exuded a passion for the world we live in and was a consultant to the National Geography Bee; he adorned his classroom with maps of all parts of the earth; and

WHEREAS, Fred was not hesitant to show his lighter side by telling funny stories about himself and his friends and family or by telling homespun jokes, albeit sometimes recycled, such as using the traffic light "walk" sign as his campaign reminder if he ever ran for public office; his students often say he is the best thing since sliced bread; and

WHEREAS, Fred Walk's tremendous work has been praised in Illinois and across the nation when he received the Distinguished Educator Award from the National Council for Geographic Education, the Excellence Award from the Illinois Education Association for Central Illinois, the State Farm Good Neighbors Teacher Award, and several times was awarded the Teacher of the Year by his students at NCHS; and

WHEREAS, Beyond these awards, Fred Walk's most important lesson was the impact he has had on all of his students; his intellectual curiosity, compassion, dry humor, and drive for achievement embodies an ideal that his students could take with them for the rest of their lives; although his days of teaching at NCHS draw to a close, the thoughts he instilled, the questions he dared to ask, and the tolerance he demanded will play on for future generations; as such, for the community in which he taught, Mr. Walk will remain a part of its history; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the remarkable 33-year teaching career of Fred Walk, and thank him for his commitment and service to his students, community, and the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Fred Walk as an expression of our respect and esteem and with our best wishes for his retirement.