[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MARK FRIESTAD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 1999

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the winner of the 
1999 ``Great American Think-Off.'' This year's champion is Mark 
Friestad, a high school social studies teacher who proved to his 
students that learning is a life-long pursuit to be enjoyed and 
celebrated.
  Mark is a dedicated young teacher in my hometown of Valley City, 
North Dakota, who exemplifies the state's exceptional teachers.
  He was among 500 contestants from around the country competing in the 
Great American Think-Off held in New York Mills, Minnesota. The task 
was the best answer to the question: Which is more dangerous: Science 
or Religion? Selected as one of four finalists to debate the merits of 
his essay, Mark convinced the crowd of 400 with thoughful arguments 
supporting his thesis. At the end of the day, the audience felt that he 
had best illustrated his point that the more dangerous idea between 
science and religion is the one accepted more blindly--science.
  While Mark is to be commended for his insightful debate and well-
researched essay, perhaps just as important is his participation. 
Reading about and studying topics of interest should not be limited to 
our school years, but rather encouraged and practiced at every age 
level. Formal education and official degrees are the runways for 
learning, but our country has taken flight thanks to the help of great 
life-long thinkers.
  How fortunate we are to have thoughtful, studious individuals who 
dedicate their careers to the public education of our young people. I 
congratulate Mr. Friestad for teaching by example, and picking up the 
title of ``America's Greatest Thinker'' along the way.

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