Teachers Saving Children® of Pennsylvania Inc.
Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 1
November 1998
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We are happy that our membership holds steady even though our goal is to increase our numbers dramatically during this current membership year. We now have our own brochure and have begun to distribute copies at various events and to many interested persons. We continue to make plans for improving our visibility and overall effectiveness as an organization. We are beginning to think of ways to more actively involve you in spreading the word about our organization. We are, as the saying goes, "small but mighty," and we plan to continue our dedicated efforts at promoting respect and reverence for life, from the moment of conception until natural death.
We are convinced that many educators in the state support the pro-life cause and would like to have a special voice in "Fighting for LIFE in Education." We hope to have a strong and obvious part in that. We will take advantage of opportunities to speak our message and to encourage others to join us.
Five of our eight Board of Trustee members attended the PA Pro-Life Federation's conference held at the Harrisburg Marriott on September 19, 1998. TSC of PA had an ad in the Federation's 1998 Pro-life Reference Manual, and we had a booth at the conference itself. Our board members distributed copies of our brochure and spoke with many persons.
Our next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for April 10, 1998. In the meantime we have promised to do our part to "get the word out" and to make our own commitment to LIFE a genuine part of our lives. Our prayer is that we will be able, with God's help, to encourage others to join us in this struggle for one of our most basic freedoms, the right to life. We cannot stand idly by while millions of innocent children in the womb are prevented from seeing the light of day. We have pledged ourselves to choose LIFE. We promise to do all we can to help others, and most especially teachers of children and youth, to see the absolute necessity and the fundamental justice of doing the same. TSC of PA, Inc. is pledged to that cause. Membership is open to anyone dedicated to the cause of protecting and saving the lives of the unborn.
On a personal note, I would like to praise the current members of our Board of Trustees who have already proven in many ways that they are truly champions of LIFE. I thank Linda Burroughs, Lee Kefir, Leek and Scott Mover, John Barrow, John Dunce, and Barbara Purcell for their dedication, their witness, and their determination to "fight the good fight" for the most defenseless of our nation's citizens, the unborn.
And, finally, I would like to honor the memory of Kathy Berdanier, whom I knew but a short time and who was one of our founding members. She was such an ardent but gentle defender of LIFE, even as her own life on this earth was drawing to a close. May she know the wonder of God's heavenly kingdom and the glorious joy of eternal LIFE!
In 1970, the year New York State legalized abortion, I started teaching in a New York City high school. An outspoken opponent of legal abortion, I was in the minority. The majority were loud, intimidating, and persistent. By 1973, when the other states got around to legalizing murder, my pro-life colleagues had disappeared. Occasionally one would whisper that she was on my side, but out of the 280 adults (faculty, administration, counselors, aides, paraprofessionals, police, custodians), I spoke alone. And speak, indeed, I was often call upon to do. When I entered a room the topic of abortion entered with me. For twenty-six years the debate continued, and if I had not retired and moved out here to PA, we would still be talking about abortion today.
I learned a few things from those talks that might help you in your teacher-room debates. Two are: be quiet and remain anonymous.
Most of my opponents were fair, smart, and Jewish. They were haunted by the realization that the strong could collaborate to murder the weak, and they did not want me to draw the parallel between the German Holocaust and our American one. But they were more skilled in argument and drama than I, usually leaving at the bell with the last word. Whenever I began making headway, they were excellent at shifting the discussion to a side issue. I soon discovered that my best tactic was to be quiet. After all, every argument defending baby murder is either absurd or diabolical. In my shouting days, the person with whom I was disagreeing and I talked simultaneously. When I shut up, however, the pro-choice argument hung naked in the air, exposed for the lie it was. Invariably another pro-choicer, or even the debate himself, would counter it. As I say, these anti-lifers were fair and basically more anxious to get at a truth than gain a victory. It got to the point where I would sit back and let my opponents argue the pro-life position.
One situation I could not counter, however, was my identity. These people were my friends, they knew me, and they blamed my position on my religion. Even though they came to see the truth, they simply could not accept my religion, and, I believe, remained pro-death simply for that reason. The experience helped me, though, with my other discussions.
My other abortion discussions occurred at the mills: I talked to the escorts, the orange-vested group who accompanies the babies to their executions. I never considered these people the enemy; the enemies of life are the zombies who drive by the mills with eyes averted while we are protesting. These defenders of abortion, on the other hand, are committed and determined. They are dead wrong, of course, but I see a future pro-life activist in every one of them. Anyway, I learned from my lunchroom debates at the high school to remain anonymous. If you are pro-life your opponent will want to know if you are a Baptist, a Catholic, a Jew for Jesus, an Orthodox Jew, an Evangelical, etc. This knowledge enables him or her to attack your religion and thus avoid discussing murder, a truly unspeakable topic. I learned quickly that most escorts are out there because "no Pope is going to tell me what to do." In other words, they are pro-death activities because they are anti-Catholic. Even the brightest once told me that the Pope was really wrong about a number of issues. I stared blankly at him and said "What do I care?" I finally got the escorts off that topic by telling them they were hung up on the Pope. I said, "Unless you can get over this terrible hang-up, you will never be able to think straight." After that our discussions got more interesting because the same thing happened on the street as in the lunchroom: naked, ugly, pro-death arguments were exposed for everyone, even the arguer, to see.
I won't have a chance out here in PA to spend time during the day with colleagues in a lunchroom, but I will meet again with abortion workers and escorts: Planned Parenthood has opened a huge death camp right here in Reading. (Planned Parenthood is now attempting to do this in Lancaster as well.)
John Dunkle is a member of the TSC of PA, Inc., Board of Trustees. He spent many years not only as a high school teacher but also as a witness at NYC abortion clinics.
Editor:
Chalk dust is in the air. Plaid jumpers and polished apples may be replaced by baggy pants and fruit roll-ups, but September still has a hint of excitement even for seasoned school teachers like me. It affords another opportunity for educators to visualize what a new year may bring.
What makes possible what we hope to see in June? Many things.
Most of us are aware of the conscientious, creative, collaborative efforts necessary to tap potentials and see results.
What undermines this effort? In my opinion, the National Education Association itself. Its mission should be to dedicate itself exclusively to the support and welfare of educators and students. Instead this powerful political force exacerbates divisiveness and alienates its pro-life, pro-family constituency.
Consider some of the decisions made at its recent convention. The NEA delegates easily passed this resolution: "NEA will oppose any legislation which will erode the status of Roe v Wade and/or which impedes access to and choice of reproductive health care options, by providing technical assistance to state affiliates."
And the following resolution has been reaffirmed every year since 1986: "The Association further urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family planning clinics that will provide intensive counseling by trained personnel."
Connie Bancroft, National Executive Director of Teachers Saving Children®, counters, "They (the professional educators' associations) must cease taking controversial political stands, especially on non-education issues, without a clear mandate from their members. Now is the time to get involved in saving the lives of pre-born students."
One way to do this is to support the newly formed Pennsylvania affiliate of Teachers Saving Children®. Membership is open to all pro-life, pro-family educators and concerned citizens. I have information and membership forms available.
| Renewals | New | Total | |||||||
| July | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| August | 25 | 3 | 28 | ||||||
| September | 13 | 1 | 14 | ||||||
| October | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||
| Grand Totals | 43 | 4 | 47 |
| Balance - September 1, 1997 | $1,294.34 | ||
| Receipts: | |||
| Contributions | $155.00 | ||
| Memberships | |||
| '97-'98 | 310.00 | ||
| '98-'99 | 620.00 | ||
| $1085.00 | |||
| $2379.34 | |||
| Disbursements: | |||
| Administrative | $164.99 | ||
| (Bank Fee $60) | |||
| (PO Box $40) | |||
| National Dues | 186.00 | ||
| Postage | 64.45 | ||
| Public Relations | |||
| Printing | 611.62 | ||
| Promotion | 275.00 | ||
| $1302.06 | |||
| Balance - August 31, 1998 | $1077.28 |
1998-1999 BUDGET
September 1, 1998 - August 31, 1999
| Miscellaneous | $100.00 |
| Audit Fees ($100) | |
| National Dues (In/Out) | 200.00 |
| Office Administration | 200.00 |
| Copier/Fax | |
| Letters & Envelopes | |
| Supplies | |
| Bank Service Fees | |
| Postage | 400.00 |
| Regular Postage | |
| PO Box Annual Fee | |
| Public Relations | 450.00 |
| Advertising | |
| Printing of Newsletters (2) | |
| PA Pro-Life Conference | |
| Telephone | 50.00 |
| Phone Reimbursements | |
| Travel Expenses | 000.00 |
| Board Approved Trips | |
| - Lodging Reimbursement | |
| - Mileage Reimbursement | |
| GRAND TOTAL | $1400.00 |
John Barrow, Assistant Executive Director (Jefferson County) - John has been teaching since 1985 in the Brockway Area School District. He is a member of the NEA and PSEA and is certified as a principal in PA. He is also a member of his church's pro-life committee. PA's Pro-Life Federation, and the Blue Army. With his wife, he previously taught Natural Family Planning with the Couple-to Couple League.
Barbara Purcell, Secretary (Cumberland County) - Now retired, Barbara taught in a variety of positions and schools for 32 years. While teaching, she was active in PSEA and served in various positions both at the local and state levels, and attended the NEA conventions. For the past 25 years, Barbara has been a member of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, the PA Pro-Life Federation, Human Life International, and several other pro-life organizations.
Linda Burroughs, Treasurer (Warren County) - Since 1985, Linda has been a special education teacher with the Warren County School District, and is a member of the NEA. Linda was a founding member of her local Crisis Pregnancy Center, served as the director for three years, and has also served as the president of the Board of Directors. She is a member of the PA Pro-Life Federation and has participated in the annual March for Life and Life Chain.
John Dunkle (Berks County) - Having recently moved from Long Island, John now teachers English at Penn State-Berks Lehigh Valley College. He is the father of five and the grandfather of seven. Formerly, he was active with Father Norman Weslin's Lambs of Christ and with the Rescue Movement.
Lee Keefer (Lancaster County) - Since 1986, Lee has been a school nurse with the Penn Manor School District. She was involved with a writing and picketing campaign through her local unit concerning NEA's stand on abortion. At her local church Lee, along with her husband, team teaches an adult Sunday School class and participates in a prayer ministry.
Cornelia Moyer (Northampton County) - Cornelia has been teaching fifth grade in the Diocese of Allentown since 1989. She also serves as the Language Arts Coordinator. She supports Pennsylvanians for Human Life, Human Life International, the PA Pro-Life Federation, and has participated in the annual March for Life. She is also very active in her local church.
Scott Moyer (Northampton County) - Since 1989, Scott has been a special education teacher with Colonial Intermediate Unit #20. He is an NEA member and has held a union office within his local association. He has done volunteer work for PA Pro-Life Federation and Pennsylvanians for Human Life, as well as participated in the annual March for Life. He is also active within his local church.
PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS
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