HR0904

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois wish to congratulate National-Louis 
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University on the occasion of its 120th anniversary in 2006; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, National-Louis was founded in 1886 by Elizabeth 
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Harrison, an early pioneer of early childhood education who 
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brought the concept of kindergarten to the midwest and started 
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N.L.U. as a "school for mothers" to educate Chicago's growing 
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population of immigrant families about the impact early 
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child-rearing has on later education and self esteem; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The school grew quickly, from six students 
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initially to more than 700 three years later; eventually the 
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school for mothers grew into a college for kindergarten 
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teachers and then for elementary and high school teachers and 
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would be known as the National College of Education; and
 

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    WHEREAS, National College of Education spawned the PTA, 
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Head Start, and the concept of special education; the school 
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introduced the first four-year course of undergraduate study 
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for aspiring teachers and became a pioneer in the graduate 
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education of working teachers, principals, and 
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superintendents; and
 

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    WHEREAS, National College of Education, as an innovator in 
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the education of working adults, began offering bachelor and 
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masters degree programs in business, health and human services, 
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and the arts and sciences in the early 1970s and was the first 
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private college in Illinois to offer courses at satellite 
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campuses across the Chicagoland area; and
 

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    WHEREAS, In 1990, the generosity of benefactor Michael W. 
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Louis enabled the National College of Education to formally 
 


 






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become a doctoral-level university, and the College was renamed 
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National-Louis University, comprised of a College of Arts & 
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Sciences, College of Management and Business, and the National 
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College of Education; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Today, the legacy of Elizabeth Harrison continues 
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to have a profound positive impact on education with nearly 
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one-in-five Illinois teachers holding either a graduate or 
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undergraduate degree from National-Louis; and
 

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    WHEREAS, National-Louis is recognized by U.S. News and 
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World Report as a top national university for its ethnic and 
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economic diversity as well as its small class sizes; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Nation-wide, National-Louis University is in the 
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top three schools in the number of graduate degrees awarded to 
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working teachers; and
 

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    WHEREAS, More Golden Apple Award-winning teachers hold 
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degrees from National-Louis University than any other college 
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or university; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The university continues to develop programs in 
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partnership with Chicago Public Schools and other districts 
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throughout the State to enhance teacher effectiveness and 
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school leadership and to raise student achievement in reading, 
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science, and math; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate National-Louis University on the occasion of 
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the 120th anniversary of its founding by education pioneer 
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Elizabeth Harrison, and we thank the students, staff, and 
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faculty, as well as the many alumni for their dedication to 
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improving education in our State; and be it further
 

 


 






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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to National-Louis University as a token of our 
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respect and esteem.