Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. - National

As reported in the TSC June 1995 newsletter, NEA delegates had already submitted a petition in accordance with the NEA Constitution to place Amendment 9 before the NEA delegate body. When Educators for Life Caucus first met on Sunday, July 2, 1995, they discussed amending the amendment to make it more clear and workable. The amended amendment placed before the NEA delegate body stated: "The Secretary Treasurer shall ensure to the NEA membership that no General Fund monies are funneled to abortion lobbying activities." At the Second Business Meeting of the NEA RA held on July 3, 1995, pro-life educators had their first floor victory through a parliamentary procedure. The majority of NEA delegates present voted to support the amended amendment which then allowed for a secret ballot vote on Wednesday, July 5, 1995 to permanently enact the position.

On Wednesday, it was reported by several members to the Educators for Life Caucus Leadership that the pro-life amendment had been removed from their voting booth. Educators for Life Caucus filed a request for a hearing with the NEA Elections Committee. The request for a hearing was granted and the NEA Elections Committee reported that some irregularities had occurred in the voting booths and verified that between 35 and 55 voting booths had been tampered with. The NEA Elections Committee had to declare on the floor of the RA that they would not certify the results of Amendment 9 and called for another vote on the amendment for Thursday, July 6, 1995.

On Thursday voting did occur on Amendment 9 and the ballots were hand counted with members from Educators for Life Caucus observing. The official results:      For: 2174;    Against: 4023.

Pro-life delegates also had an opportunity to bring Resolution I-13 to the floor for discussion. Two different motions were made on the resolution. It was moved to change the language of the resolution from "Reproductive Freedom" to "Reproductive Responsibility". This change would have allowed the resolution to focus more on education rather than remain a political issue. The second motion was to delete Resolution I-13. Although both motions failed, pro-life delegates were able to get debate and consideration on the motions as there was not one "objection to consideration" requested.

Educators for Life Caucus is growing. They are building coalitions with other caucuses of like concerns which has increased their educational outreach to delegates. The increased support that was seen this year both on the floor and through voting encouraged the Educators for Life Caucus Leadership. Strategic plans are already being made for next year's convention.

NOTE: Educators for Life is a caucus working at the NEA Assembly whose purpose is to promote the civil rights of ALL human beings. Educators for Life promotes change within the NEA through members becoming involved as delegates. Anyone considering attending the 1996 NEA Representative Assembly in Washington DC should contact Edward Weber, 1417 Henning Drive, Lyndhurst OH 44124 (216-449-5372) for more information.

Educators do have options as to their involvement in the union. Before one can determine which option they will choose, they must first determine their contractual responsibilities. The Master Agreement between the local union and the Board of Education should state one's obligations, if any, to the union. If under the contract language you have the choice of joining, then you have the option of not joining. Even if the contract language contains an obligation to join or financially support the union, this does not mean that legally one must join. There are options.

One option is to become a "Fair Share Fee Payer". Fair Share gives each local Association the right to collect from each non-member a fee equivalent to the costs incurred by the Association for negotiating and administering the collective bargaining agreement. The union states that they go through an extensive mediation process each year to determine the exact dollar amount which can be assessed. Usually this dollar amount is approximately 95% of the total dues amount. As a fair share fee payer, one is still a "member of the bargaining unit" and is entitled to receive the benefits of the collective bargaining agreements. One also is entitled to all privileges that members enjoy except three items: Only union members can 1) vote; 2) hold office; and 3) receive strike benefits. To become a fair share fee payer all one needs to do is check the box on the membership form in the fall at membership time. The union must then notify what one needs to do next and when. Teachers within school districts that have a union security provision in the Master Agreement must be notified of the Fair Share option and procedure.

The second option is for an individual to request for religious accommodation. This option is available under the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which protects employees against job requirements which contradict sincerely held religious beliefs. This is a very simple matter to file and can be done by writing a letter to the union detailing the nature of your objections and request an accommodation. If the union refuses to accommodate, a charge of religious discrimination can be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The amount of dues monies normally paid to the union will then be redirected to a charity or non-profit organization.

The third option is to join the union and to get involved to make change from within. One can get involved simply by taking the time to vote and voicing one's opinion.

TSC does not take a position on which option to choose. The most important thing is to become informed by getting all the facts, know what your local contract states, and then follow your conscience. Some feel that they must stay in and try to change from within. There are others who feel that the loudest, clearest "vote" one will ever cast on the issues is by either paying "fair share" or filing religious accommodation. However you feel, your feelings are respected.

In June 1994, TSC put together a brochure entitled "Participation in Teacher Unions: Your Rights, Responsibilities and Options". This brochure gives more detail on the options listed in this article. Copies of the brochure are available by contacting TSC.

Beginning with this issue of the TSC newsletter, information about members of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director will be shared. It is hoped by sharing this information that pro-life educators will better understand how TSC is governed by volunteers, thus being able to better support the leadership through prayer and other means of involvement.

The Executive Director of Teachers Saving Children^® is Miss Connie Bancroft. A graduate of Malone College with a degree in music education, she has done graduate work at both Walsh College and Kent State University earning master degrees in special education and reading specialization. She currently teaches students with learning disabilities in the West Branch School District (Mahoning County, OH). Connie is involved in both church and community activities. She attends the Deerfield Evangelical Friends Church where she is the pianist and coordinator for missions. Community involvement is in a variety of areas on an as needed basis. Being single, her family activities include spending time with her nephews, Charlie & Daniel. Having been a member of the National Education Association and the Ohio Education Association for the past eleven years, Connie has been very active at both the local, regional, and state levels. She currently serves as chair of the Local Constitution & Bylaws Committee and on the regional credentials committee. In addition, she has served as a delegate to the Northeast Ohio Education Association Representative Assembly and to the Ohio Education Association Representative Assembly.

Ron Cain has been a member of the Ohio Chapter Board of Trustees since its inception. He retired from public school teaching in June 1994 after teaching at Whitmer High School in Toledo for 27 years along with 4 years of teaching in PA. During Ron's early teaching career, he was a member of his local association. However, because of NEA's pro-abortion position, Ron became a "Fair Share Fee Payer" during the last ten years of teaching. Currently Ron is teaching chemistry laboratory classes at Lourdes College, a private Catholic College. He is married to Elizabeth, who is the director of St Vincent School of Nursing, and they have 3 children: Tisha who will be teaching in Louisiana this current school year; Paula, who is a senior at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI; and Matthew who is stationed at Bangor Submarine Base in Washington State. Ron is active in the Toledo Right to Life Chapter currently serving as its treasurer. The members of the Cain family are also very avid Michigan Wolverine fans.

Information about the other six Board of Trustees members will be shared in forthcoming newsletters. However, let this much be known about the remaining 6 members: 2 are currently NEA members; 2 are former NEA members who filed and received a religious accommodation exemption; 1 is a former NEA member who decided not to join NEA anymore; and 1 is a former NEA member who decided not to join NEA the last few years of teaching. As to educational positions: 4 are full time public school teachers; 1 is an administrator; and 1 is a former public school teacher who now homeschools and is a local Board of Education member. Hope this helps those individuals who are interested in TSC to know more about who we are - grassroots pro-life educators who are concerned about saving the lives of unborn children.

All the legal work of the Corporation has been completed. TSC National is incorporated in the state of Ohio. The SS4 number has been issued. The National Constitution & Bylaws have been written and approved. In June we received approval as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. As a 501(c)(4) recognized organization, any memberships and contributions received are NOT tax deductible.

Now the work begins to work towards our goal of TSC State Chapters. The TSC National Board of Trustees has set forth a procedure for the formation of state chapters. Right now we need the names of individuals who would be interested in helping to form a chapter within their state. A few individuals have already indicated that interest. The National Board of Trustees will work with these prospective state leaders through the process. It takes dedication and time, but it is worth it for every life that is saved. Anyone interested in becoming a state leader, please contact TSC for more information.

TSC is also dependent upon individuals from across the nation to keep us informed of activities within your state. Please send newsworthy items for possible inclusion in the bi-monthly newsletter.

First, teachers can make their opinion heard each year at membership renewal time (October). Please take five minutes to write a letter to Keith Geiger, NEA President (National Education Association, 1201 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036) expressing your opposition to the NEA view on abortion.

Secondly, there will again be a push for NEA-PAC contributions. Judy Bruns, a TSC member, has made a suggestion regarding our response to PAC contributions. She suggested that if each person would fill out a PAC contribution form with a donation of 1 penny along with a written note expressing opposition to the NEA view on abortion, our voices would be heard.

To make change at the State and National levels our message which is rational and sensible must be heard. Together our message will be heard!

We continue to work through other pro-life organizations in a variety of ways to inform others 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.

The new TSC National brochure 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.

Beginning at the Spring 1991 OEA RA, pro-life delegates have made motions every spring either through New Business Items, through Resolution discussions, or through Bylaw amendments. Sometimes these items have been stifled through a parliamentary procedure called "objection to consideration". Other times there has been lengthy and healthy debate. Although to date all motions to rid the OEA of their pro-abortion position have failed, there has been increased support to eliminate this position. Anyone interested in receiving a list of actual motions and results can contact TSC.

Pro-life defined: Means the individual is for the choice of life for unborn babies. They believe there should be laws protecting unborn babies and their mothers.