Teachers Saving Children® Inc. of Ohio
	Press Release May 5, 1998	Home TSC Ohio Press Releases

May 5, 1998, Columbus, Ohio.  Members of Ohio Life Issues Caucus and their pro-life constituency back home have grown impatient with what they term as a refusal of the Ohio Education Association (OEA) leadership to answer a simple question, "What is OEA's definition of 'reproductive freedom?'"

At the May 2, 1998 afternoon session of the OEA's Spring Representative Assembly (RA), Ohio Life Issues Caucus members again pressed for the meaning of the term "reproductive freedom" as it is used in Section I-3 of the OEA's Resolutions document. The answer to that question could cost the OEA the membership of pro-life educators who will not pay dues to an organization that supports abortion.

"Life Issues Caucus members have sought the meaning of the term since 1993, but have been given the 'run-around'," said Judy Bruns, delegate from Coldwater, Ohio. "We have tried to work through the Resolutions' sub-committee and the full commission, too," she said, "but to no avail. My fellow teacher constituents in my local school district have a right to know if their dues money is going to an organization that supports abortion as an option. The majority of the teachers in my district oppose their OEA dues money having any connection with abortion."

Members of the OEA Resolutions Commission have changed their statements about the definition of reproductive freedom over the years. At the April 30, 1993, OEA Spring RA it was stated that reproductive freedom "would include the right to an abortion." At the May 3, 1996, OEA Spring RA the response was that "It has been interpreted by this Representative Assembly through the Resolutions Commission in the report that you have adopted that you do not have a position on abortion; you have a position on a woman's right to choose." At the OEA Spring RA the following year, on May 3, 1997, the statement made by the OEA legal consultant was that "The Resolutions Commission in its meetings has not specifically defined the term 'reproductive freedom.'"

"Some of my local union members back home will quit the OEA if it is established that their dues are, indeed, supporting a woman's decision to kill her preborn baby. The practice of brain suction abortion has made pro-life teachers even more adamant in their objection to all of this. I believe the OEA leadership is neither actively seeking nor delivering an honest answer to this question. They're afraid they'll lose membership," said Bruns.

Teachers Saving Children^®, Inc. of Ohio is an organization of pro-life teachers of Ohio and other concerned citizens committee to establishing among professional educators' organizations a respect for all human life from conception to natural death.

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