Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 6, Number 4
April 1996
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The newspaper headlines across the nation these past weeks and months have broadcast information regarding the 1996 presidential election campaign. As the time comes closer to the November General Election, all forms of media will be used to influence the citizens of this nation to vote for certain candidates in a variety of offices at all levels of government. What will happen in 1996 is yet to be seen. Yet, all of America and the world will be watching as this election draws nigh and takes place.
What about our representation as educators? The NEA was a vital force behind the changes that occurred in 1992. The NEA will again become a vital force behind the 1996 elections. Does the NEA represent you? Even if one does not belong to the NEA or the AFT, remember, these national unions represent the teachers of America. They endorse candidates at all levels. Many of these endorsement decisions are made by individuals who are delegates and/or who choose to get involved through EPAC.
Local representation and elections are very important because many educators get involved in the union at the local level and then move up the ranks, getting more involved at regional, state, and then the national level. Many local associations are conducting their elections yet this spring. I recently attended a local association membership meeting that was called for the sole purpose of nominating individuals for local offices and delegate positions. There are 117 members in my local association and only 9 members attended this meeting. All members will have the opportunity to vote, but to vote for whom - only those nominated by the 9 who attended the meeting?
It is very important for anyone who is a member of the association to get involved in the process by either being a candidate or at least nominating and voting for individuals who represent their philosophy. Nonmembers can also be involved by encouraging members to take a stand through involvement. The NEA claims to be a democratic organization. Let's take advantage of our right to choose our representation, our officers & delegates, even if it is only at the local level because that's where it all begins.
Remember - Responsible citizenship is no accident! Responsible membership is no accident either!
Sheila Shepherd has been a member of the Ohio Chapter Board of Trustees for two years and the National Board of Trustees since its inception. Sheila is in her seventeenth year of teaching in the Cambridge City Schools as an intermediate EMR Teacher. She received her B.A. degree from Ohio State University and her masters in Special Education from Ohio University. During her first 13 years of teaching she was a member of the NEA. Three years ago she made the decision to drop out of the NEA by filing for a religious exemption. Sheila has received numerous teaching awards including the 1989 Cambridge City Schools' Teacher of the Year, the 1989 Outstanding Educator of the year/Phi Delta Kappa, and more recently the 1994 Year of Education Excellence Award. Sheila enjoys Civil War history, reading, aerobics, biking, and hiking. She has traveled extensively including England, the Canadian Rockies, the American West, the New England area, and Alaska. She also enjoys attending church related Bible Studies.
1. Elections of Officers of the Board for the 1996-97 fiscal year were held. Connie Bancroft will serve as the Executive Director; Gary Winney will serve as the Assistant Executive Director; Carolyn Croll will serve as Secretary.
2. A decision was made to use membership cards instead of receipts beginning with the 1996-97 membership year.
3. A committee consisting of Connie Bancroft, Executive Director, along with Board members Gary Winney and Ron Cain, was named to review the TSC Constitution & Bylaws document.
Membership: As of March 30, 1996, there are 317 paid TSC members. This is an increase over last year and the number of interested individuals in the database continues to grow. TSC membership is open to all pro-life/pro-family educators and concerned citizens. Contributions and memberships are NOT tax deductible. Please be advised that according to the TSC Constitution & Bylaws, the membership year is from September 1 - August 31. Our membership drive for the 1996-97 membership year will begin June 1st. Renewal membership information will be sent to all current members in early July.
Affiliate State Chapter Update: Pennsylvania leadership has sent in their incorporation papers, has applied for their SS4 number, and has met to write their Constitution & Bylaws document. They are currently waiting for the paperwork to be approved and should be meeting as a full ad hoc committee sometime soon to approve their Constitution & Bylaws. Once their IRS filing is completed, then the National Board of Trustees will consider their application for state affiliation.
The national office has also been in contact with two individuals from Michigan who are diligently working to make contacts across that great state. If you know of pro-life teachers or organizations from Michigan, please encourage them to make contact with the TSC National office.
Public Relations: Since its incorporation, information about TSC has been spread across the nation by word of mouth. We continually need your help in getting information about TSC out to as many educators as possible. We also work through other pro-life organizations in a variety of ways to inform people about TSC. If you have contacts with other pro-life organizations, please contact TSC for details on how these organizations can help us spread the word.
With the new area code now in effect, TSC has an updated publicity brochure that is now available. Contact TSC to receive multiple copies of the brochure to share with your colleagues. Let's continue to recruit the troops as we work together in this battle for life.
Oops! Teachers Saving Children® was listed in a sidebar on page 21 of the April 1996 issue of Teachers in Focus magazine as having pro-life and sexual purity resources available to teachers for students. This information is inaccurate. TSC has made contact with the editors of Teachers in Focus and a correction will be printed in the May/June 1996 issue.
NEA Convention 1996: The 1996 NEA Convention will be held in Washington DC, July 2-5, 1996. It is vital that you contact your delegates to the convention, letting them know your philosophy on various issues. If you have a delegate(s) from your local attending the NEA convention, contact should be very easy. However, many locals do not or can not send delegates to the NEA, either because of the financial burden or because of their small membership size. Someone will be representing you! Check with your local president as to who will be representing you - either as an at-large state delegate(s) or possibly a clustered local delegate. Local presidents should know who your delegate representative(s) will be by the 1st part of May. If they don't know - ask them to find out by contacting your state affiliate NEA office. Get involved by contacting your NEA delegates! They are your representatives!
Anyone attending the NEA Representative Assembly needs to contact Educators for Life whose purpose is to promote the civil rights of ALL human beings Educators for Life promotes change within the NEA through the involvement of members as delegates and representatives on all levels. They want to make contact with anyone who will be attending the NEA RA so that everyone concerned about the abortion issue can work together as a team. If you will be attending the RA either as a delegate, an alternate, or even as a visitor, please contact Edward Weber (216-449-5372) for current information regarding involvement in Educators for Life Caucus.
1. Elections of Officers of the Board for the 1996-97 fiscal year were held. Connie Bancroft will serve as the Executive Director; Gary Winney will serve as the Assistant Executive Director; Carolyn Croll will serve as Secretary.
2. A decision was made to use membership cards instead of receipts beginning with the 1996-97 membership year.
3. A committee consisting of Connie Bancroft, Executive Director, along with Board members Gary Winney and Ron Cain, was named to review the TSC Constitution & Bylaws document.
4. The Board made a decision NOT to have a peaceful demonstration in 1996. This item will be re-evaluated each year.
5. A worship proposal has been submitted and accepted for the 1996 Ohio Pro-Life Convention in Springfield OH, September 13-14, 1996.
In the past months, I have been privileged to work with the Ohio Life Issues Caucus in conducting a survey of educators on the position of the Professional Education Association in relation to "reproductive freedom". As defined in the pamphlet distributed to all OEA presidents, reproductive freedom "refers to dual rights - the rights to abortion and to carry a pregnancy to term." (Deceptions by the Radical Right against the National Education Association, NEA Human and Civil Rights, 1994, page 9.)
As the survey was distributed to all local presidents within Ohio, many questions arose. I wish all the people questioning the survey could have read the article "A Word from the Executive Director" in the TSC Newsletter, February 1996 issue, for an interesting commentary on the term "reproductive freedom".
However, it was heartening to see that in every sampling returned the majority voted for Professional Education Associations to take NO position concerning reproductive freedom. There were many clearly stated comments that it is not our place as educators to be involved.
As educators we are conscientious, caring, and dedicated to "minding the store" while not overstepping the boundaries into the area of life and death - literally - decisions for others. Perhaps as we elect delegates to the representative assemblies, we need to make sure that these people, who are speaking for us, are indeed aware of the "grassroots" concerns.
Editor's Note: Reminder - TSC did NOT conduct this survey, but is only cooperating with Ohio Life Issues Caucus by reporting to our membership survey information. When the survey results are tabulated and analyzed, a report will be given in the TSC newsletter.
The Cost of Abortion by Lawrence F. Roberge includes a chapter entitled "Abortion Effects on Education, Student Enrollment and Teacher Employment". Education is one of the first social areas affected by abortion as it eliminates a consumer of educational goods and services at all levels of education. Using statistics from the United States Department of Education, the author looks at the relationship between student enrollment and abortion, and then its effect on teacher employment. The author concludes by stating that "the evidence suggests that the social and economic effects of abortion on education include declining student enrollment, reduced available teaching positions, reduced economic growth of school related materials (e.g. computers, books, paper, desks, etc.) and fewer education construction requirements (e.g. construction of new schools, expansion of present education facilities, etc.)." [p.49]. This book is available for $10.45 (includes shipping and handling) by contacting Four Winds, PO Box 3102, LaGrange GA 30241 * 1-800-552-1098.
"Sex Education and Our Children" is the title of a recent Focus on the Family broadcast that featured Carol Everett and Amy Stephens as Dr. Dobson's guests. These two women expose the methods and madness behind the liberal SEICUS agenda and today's sex education curricula. They also discuss what educators can do to counteract this liberal agenda. An audio cassette of this broadcast is available from Focus on the Family for a suggested donation of $7. For more information on how to obtain this excellent tape contact Focus on the Family at 1-800-232-6459.
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