Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 14, Number 1
October 2003
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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
These past several weeks and months have been extremely busy for me as a result of some interesting trials, situations, and ministries that the Lord has brought into my life. I am so blessed by the way He provides during these times.
About two months ago I received a letter from a Teachers Saving Children® member – a letter that inspired the articles for this newsletter. I praise the Lord for his provision for each article for every newsletter as my time is very limited, especially at this time of year. So enjoy these special articles and be encouraged by what God is doing through our teens.
Mother Teresa’s words come to mind every time I walk by the Home Economics room at my high school. In that room I was first able to understand exactly what Mother Teresa was warning against.
It was a usual fall day in Home Economics. We were watching a movie on the developmental processes of an unborn child. When the video began to show pictures of the tiny babies growing inside of their mothers, I sat in awe at the miracle of life that was taking place. The video began to show the baby at twelve weeks and explained that at this stage the child has developed the body parts required to experience pain, including all of the nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. I noticed the girl sitting next to me, who was usually combing her long, dyed, red hair or doodling in her notebook during class, had turned her head away from the video and was staring at the floor. The video continued to play. I asked her if everything was all right. A few small words at a time she began to explain why she hadn’t been able to make it to school for the past three months; why she was never focused in class; and why she continued to date an abusive boyfriend. She was gesturing towards her abdomen, whispering that her boyfriend didn’t know; that her mother ran a day-care center; and seeing all the babies and toddlers at her mother’s work place was tearing her apart.
She couldn’t bring herself to admit she had consented to an abortion. However, it became clear when she mentioned that the young doctor at the abortion clinic was able to explain to her precisely how much easier this simple operation would make her life and that the young doctor assured her that the physical pain would not last long. (Can anyone honestly believe that having an abortion would make this girl’s life more normal?) She was unable to admit that she had consented to this procedure to end a life, skipped school, and dated abusive and destructive boyfriends. She asked me to promise never to tell anyone that she had consented to an abortion. I can not keep that promise. I have carried this burden and developed unwavering convictions because I know that one life wasn’t needlessly destroyed, but two. Her story must be told, and retold. It is long and overdue that people become proactive rather than reactive. We are too late to save this girl from the pain she will always carry, but we can protect future women in her same situation by lobbying for “Women’s Right to Know” legislation. An abortion is not a simple procedure but a major medical operation, and all citizens are entitled to know all the facts and alternatives before consenting to an abortion.
Thomas Jefferson--one of our nation’s driving forces behind life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--stated, “In order for this republican experiment to work, our citizenry must be informed. Information is the pillar upon which a choice is dependent.” Yet in 1986 the Supreme Court ruled that abortion clinics are not required to inform women of the psychological and physical side effects of an abortion. Since 1986 a link has been made between an increase in premature births, complications with the cervix, and sterility to mothers who have consented to an abortion. Because of their developing reproductive systems, these risks are increased in adolescent mothers.
Pro-choice advocates claim to be supporting my classmate’s right not to be informed. However, she was denied the same rights given to patients in any other surgical operation: knowledge of side effects. In addition, for a mother to fully understand an abortion, she must be allowed to see an ultrasound picture of her baby and told what developmental stage her child is at; told the psychological and physical consequences of abortion; alternatives to abortion; and given information of the support groups available to her.
Every mother should be given an ultrasound picture of her baby and information about the life that is growing within her body. Former abortion clinic practitioner, Dr. W. Randall understands that enabling women to see the miracle taking place in their wombs would be the key to saving lives and ending abortion as he states: “The women are never allowed to look at the ultrasound because we knew that if they so much as heard the heart beat, they wouldn’t want to have an abortion.” Women are frequently told that the life growing inside of their bodies is a “glob of cells” by the doctors at abortion clinics. Each mother and every father should be shown an ultrasound picture of their baby, and then they should be the ones to determine what those tiny hands and kicking little legs represent.
In addition, the psychological side-effects involved in the abortion process are a threat to the life of every mother who has had an abortion. The National Research and Developmental Center for Welfare and Statistics in Finland found that among women who had committed suicide in the years 1987-1994, suicides are more common after a miscarriage, and especially after an induced abortion, than in the general population. The American Psychological Society found that women who had had abortions were more than twice as likely to have two to nine treatments for mental health as women who carried to term.
Seventeen states have currently enacted a “Women’s Right to Know” legislation. Minnesota is not one of the seventeen. Twice this legislation has been vetoed by Governor Jesse Ventura. It is unacceptable to permit doctors and nurses at abortion clinics to terminate the life of a mother’s child without allowing her to hear the child’s heartbeat. As advocates of life, it is imperative to inform our legislative bodies that we are demanding every woman be given sufficient information on all aspects of an abortion so that no mother will be able to deny that there is a life growing inside her body. Then, through truth and the understanding of the truth, we can save lives. Remembering Mother Teresa’s words, we understand that in each individual situation this legislation isn’t designed to save one life, but two.
Editor’s Note: Kyrsten Skogstad was the 2003 class valedictorian at Falls High School in International Falls, Minnesota. She is currently studying “Humanitarian Challenges at Home and Abroad” at Duke University. The above article is Kyrsten’s pro-life speech that was presented at the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life state contest in April 2003. She was awarded second prize. She has also given this speech to local clubs, church youth groups, and congregations. Her coach is Susan Nordquist, a teacher at Falls High School.
I am a seasoned educator of 29 years at International Falls High School where I teach, coach, and volunteer full time in the areas of Spanish, speech, and theatre. I also teach at Rainy River Community College in the areas of Spanish, speech, ESL, sociocultural diversity, parliamentary procedure, and exercise/dance.
My journey as a pro-lifer who works with youth began in 1987. For Mother’s Day, for my mom, I coordinated a local pro-life speech contest for juniors and seniors in Koochiching County. It was the first year I was aware that Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life had a state speech contest through which one student speaker would be selected to compete at National Right to Life’s Oratory Contest. My involvement had just begun.
That year I held a local contest, sent a student to state (she won) and to nationals. I started doing workshops around the state and helping other counties develop a pro-life speech program. The workshop “How to Put on a County Pro-Life Speech Contest” is still being done today.
Today I help at the state speaking contests by coordinating judges at the state meet and working in the tab room as needed. I have judged at the National Right to Life competition three times and have taken my student pro-life ambassadors to hundreds of speaking engagements in Minnesota and Ontario.
The miracle of life has become a passion for me. I would encourage other educators to get involved with their students to spread the pro-life message through various competitions at local, state, and national levels.
1. The Board of Trustees accepted the reports of the State Affiliate Chapters. The State Affiliate Chapters had some great ideas for the Board of Trustees to consider. Thank you!
2. The Board of Trustees approved an amendment to the Constitution & Bylaws that will make a change in the structure of the Board of Trustees. The National Board of Trustees will consist of five at-large members and one representative from each state affiliate chapter. Although a very positive change, there will be a transition period as state affiliates will need to approve changes in their own Constitution & Bylaws for selecting their representative to the National Board of Trustees as well as transition for the selection of the five at-large members. Please be patient with the Board of Trustees as the transition will take approximately one year to complete.
3. The Board of Trustees made a decision to make application for an exhibit at the NEA Expo 2004 in Washington DC, July 2-4, 2004.
4. The Board of Trustees approved the 2002-2003 fiscal report and the following 2003-2004 National budget:
| Affiliate State Chapters | $ 500.00 | ||
| Awards & Gifts | 100.00 | ||
| Legal & Accounting | 1000.00 | ||
| Office Administration | 600.00 | ||
| Postage | 1800.00 | ||
| Public Relations | |||
| Printing | 1500.00 | ||
| Promotion | 800.00 | ||
| Telephone | 800.00 | ||
| Travel Expense | 500.00 | ||
| Total | $7600.00 |
| Balance - September 1, 2002 | $2138.38 | ||
| Receipts: | |||
| Contributions: | |||
| NEA Exhibit | $3942.00 | ||
| Undesignated | 1069.82 | ||
| Memberships: | |||
| 2002-2003 | 1087.00 | ||
| 2003-2004 | 2399.00 | ||
| Interest | 17.27 | $8515.09 | |
| Disbursements: | |||
| Awards & Gifts | 100.00 | ||
| Legal & Accounting | 40.00 | ||
| Office Administration | 448.44 | ||
| Postage | 1523.06 | ||
| Public Relations | 142.29 | ||
| Printing | 919.01 | ||
| Promotion | 451.06 | ||
| NEA Exhibit** | 3654.50 | ||
| Telephone | 611.16 | $7889.52 | |
| Balance - August 31, 2003 | $2763.95 |
Please note: There were a large number of membership renewals paid prior to September 1, 2003. Thank you for helping the Board have a better picture of what our finances would be like for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. TSC does not solicit additional contributions beyond memberships, but does appreciate any additional contributions received throughout the year.
Teachers Saving Children® Inc. of MI, 4789 Section Road, Ottawa Lake MI 49267; MI2002TSC@aol.com
Ohio: The Ohio Teachers Saving Children® Board of Trustees met on October 11, 2003. The Ohio Chapter continues to cooperate with Ohio Life Issues Caucus, an entity that works with delegates to the Ohio Education Association Representative Assembly.
Teachers Saving Children® Inc. of Ohio, PO Box 125, Damascus OH 44619-0125; tsc-life@juno.com
Pennsylvania: The Board of Trustees of Teachers Saving Children®, Inc. of PA met on October 4, 2003. Robin Ross continues to serve as the Executive Director of the PA Affiliate State Chapter. This chapter has been very active with media contacts and having exhibits at various conventions.
Teachers Saving Children® of PA Inc., PO Box 214, Pen Argyl PA 18072; tscofpa@earthlink.net
Other State Affiliates: Although the time for formal application may not occur until later, there is definite potential for an affiliate state chapter within other states. As we continue to work with state leadership, we ask for your prayers and your patience. If you are interested in getting a Teachers Saving Children® Affiliate State Chapter started in your state, please contact Teachers Saving Children® for further information.
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