THE OPEN BOOK

D r. Willkie, founder and President of Life Issues Institute, provided strong impetus for Freedom To Learn in his May newsletter, THE CONNECTOR. In his article entitled, "Public Schools Can Teach Pro-Life", Willkie discusses the Casey decision, Charlotte County's Freedom To Learn, and an end to censorship in America's schools.

Willkie is the past President of National Right To Life, and his book, Abortion: Questions And answers, remains a classic in the pro-life effort. Willkie's newsletter, THE CONNECTOR, goes to 10,000 pro-life individuals or groups throughout America. His interest and support will help spread the good news that there is a new day in the area of abortion education.

Dr. Willkie is presently the founder of Life Issues Institute, 1721 W. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio. 45239.

It's time that we begin to provide answers to the questions of birth and abortion that can affect a Young person for life. Dr. Willkie's involvement moves us all closer to that time.

New Opportunities For FTL ...
Freedom To Learn has had helpful responses from a variety of groups and individuals. Dr. Willkie's discussion of the group was appreciated, and led to dozens of calls and radio interviews.

The Precious Feet people, Mike and Dinah Monahan, have offered to circulate 1,000 copies of FTL literature. Dinah wants to take the issue to her school board ... and we feel lucky and grateful.

Janet Folger heads up the abortion wing of Coral Ridge Ministries. We had a chance to visit with Janet and two colleagues, Paul Baker and Barbara Collier, all veterans. Janet will be asked to serve on the Advisory Board of Freedom To Learn. There is more to tell, but only when it happens.

We have had a vision ... that maybe one day we can -have an event ... similar to Black History Month...or the Student's against Drunk Driving week ... that would be tailor made for the schools. Royce Dunn, head of the National Life Chain ... likes the idea ... so does Janet. More about this later.

Times Are A Changin ...
States Tackle Partial Birth

Heard the news? Twenty-eight states now have laws against partial-birth abortion. Several are being held up ... for now by a federal judge ... but 12 are in effect. That means that virtually one in four states in America have banned partial birth abortions. The liberal state of Wisconsin has passed a law that would mandate the death penalty for performing a partial birth procedure. More importantly, the national legislature is on the verge of banning the procedure.

We may find that if you give the American people a chance to air their views through the democratic process, that this nation still has a strong respect for life. Our judges ... for too long ... allowed things to happen in this country that our people never would have supported. In addition to Partial Birth, some interesting things are happening with the Democratic Party. The Demo gubernatorial candidate in Illinois is staunchly pro-life. Several dozen democratic Congressmen have voted for an end to partial birth abortion.

Over 22 states have informed consent laws on the books. Most are in force. Those that are not are simply being held up by some anti-birth group in an effort to handcuff the people of the states and to censor those views they oppose.

Pro-Life Lawyers Needed ...
For two decades after Roe V. Wade all one had to know about abortion law was that states could do nothing to restrict abortion. The Casey decision has dramatically altered the legal status of abortion. But too many pro-life lawyers, busy with other things, have missed this important change. Their expertise is needed now, in the same way we have looked to the doctor in the past. Their leadership is vital ... it is vital that they dust off the law books, read Roe, Thornburgh, Akron, Webster, and Casey ... and then share what they have learned. To further speed up the involvement of the pro-life attorney ... or any attorney who will be intellectually honest, we have developed a pledge. Show the pledge to an attorney fried. Have them sign it and return it. If they have questions, have them call 627-6757. Also, the best thing you can do for that attorney friend is to order FTL's video, "Dramatic Legal Change: From Roe To Casey," as advertised. See the Lawyer's Pledge.

WELCOME

FTL TO BOARD MEETING LOCAL M.D. LENDS SUPPORT
FTL'S second visit to the Charlotte County School Board on April 21 involved the work of many, including Dr. Norma Villareal and the signatures of support from 820 citizens in the community, undoubtedly the largest petition presented to the Board in the last ten years. In addition, area teachers, had obtained signatures of support from several dozen teachers in Charlotte and Lee Counties.

Susan Dragonette opened the session with a review of the last several months. She pointed out that we could conclusively answer this question: "Was there genuine interest among parents for an effective birth and abortion curriculum?"

Joseph Jolin dropped a bombshell. He explained that the D.O.E. has provided written confirmation that FTL's legal position is correct ... schools can teach prolife ... or really teach both sides of the story. The General Counsel's Off ice has provided written verification that the sentiments of the local community on birth and abortion can be reflected in the schools.

John Beasley, Ray Fiedler, George McNeil, Tina Richards, and several others spoke for a revised curriculum in the schools of Charlotte County. The video, Before You Were Born, was introduced by a letter of support from area Pediatrician, Norma Villareal. Approximately ten minutes of the video was shown

"It Is very Important to ask the Board to do something. They may say, "yes," or or "no," but they need to be on record."
(Quote of an April 21st participant.)

Fifty to one hundred people came in support of FTL. The number varied with the hour of this very long meeting. The support was greatly appreciated, it is vital, and it will be needed in the future. One supporter said after the long wait, "Well, if this is what it takes, its worth it."

The Board allowed for an extensive presentation. However, because of time constraints, FTL did not make specific requests of the Board. Those requests will be coming up ... more later.

FTL understands that change is a process, not a single event. We also know that it is not asking too much for our educators to inform students about partial birth abortion, procedural risks, and a respect for life. We are open to an honest presentation of both sides. Schools have not had to be accountable for such instruction; we hope to provide some accountability.

Snail Mail to:
FREEDOM TO LEARN
P.O. Box 511231
Punta Gorda, Fl. 33952-1231
E-MAIL:

A WOMAN NAMED CAROLINE
by Joseph Jolin
FTL Website Director

She called to ask a question about the Web site. As we talked, I became curious about her presentation during the April Project. "I got the materials from the April Project and I did not know where they came from. But I read them and I got excited. I had never done anything like this before, make a school board presentation. But everything was right there, the press release, even the presentation.

"But about ten days before my talk, I got scared. I walked around asking God to forgive me. I wasn't going to do it. I did that for about four days. But my friend had invited a lot of friends. So I had to go through with it. And you know what, it went great. I changed the wording. I started out by saying that I was coming with a message of liberation. I told the Board that they did not have the burden of enforcing Roe, that they could do what they wanted.

"You know what. The room was totally silent. Everyone listened and they gave me my full seven minutes, even though I only had two since I was talking during public comments. Since then I have met with the Superintendent. He might give us a guest speaker for one day next year. But that's a start, isn't it?"

Yes, Caroline... that's a start. God Bless.
__________

I accept and affirm the following:

1. Impact Of Roe V. Wade, 1973: The Supreme Court made it difficult for local school districts to attempt to challenge the abortion right. The Court had taken these positions:

A. The judiciary cannot determine when life begins; as a result, no state can base its laws around the view that life begins at conception.

B . The States were not to pass laws that would "restrict" abortion, or in other ways challenge the abortion right. States were to help to implement the right, which was now the law of the land. This obviously extended to school boards, which are creations of the state legislature.

C . Roe declared that abortion came directly from the U.S. Constitution and was therefore a fundamental right. It is virtually impossible to attempt to limit a fundamental right because the U.S. Supreme Court uses a daunting standard, the strict SIGNATURE scrutiny standard, to protect such rights. To clear the hurdle of strict scrutiny, a state must ADDRESS: demonstrate that a law satisfies a "compelling" state interest. School curricula that were designed to discourage or "restrict" abortion were subject to challenge and the attendant strict scrutiny standard would apply.

(These barriers, this troika, if you will, made it impossible for schools to use public dollars to challenge the abortion right. Sure, debates were o.k. and a teacher could voice an opinion. However, a curriculum could not be designed with the intention of attempting to discourage the abortion option. In short, schools could not develop the type of curriculum that is used routinely to fight smoking, racism, and drug abuse.)

II. Barriers Fall: The dramatic change in abortion law begin with the Webster decision in '89, and later with the 1992 Casey decision. The effect of these two decisions was dramatic. The Court argued that the abortion option did not come from the U.S. Constitution, that it was not a fundamental right, and that the strict scrutiny standard would not be used. The State could take the position that life begins at conception. The State...or the people ... could attempt to discourage abortion ... short of barring a woman from terminating her pregnancy. The Court took a strong position in defense of informed choice.

In short, there were no longer any federal barriers to school curriculums that took a pro-life position. III. The Attorney's Assent: While I may, or may not, agree with all of the details of the legal explanation of the change in abortion law, and while I may or not agree that schools should teach pro-life, my signature affirms that I accept the general message of this petition: public schools are not barred by federal law from offering a pro-life curriculum.

SIGNATURE ___________________________________

NAME: _______________________________________
ADDRESS: _____________________________________
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Mail to: Freedom To Learn; P.O. Box 511231; Punta Gorda, Fl., 33951-1231.

Freedom To Learn is searching for a Coordinator to work 12 to 15 hours a week. The coordinator will run a part time office, it can be from home, and be responsible for data entry, and light bookkeeping and other tasks. Interested? Call 941-627-6757. Also, FTL is reaching out to students. We need a student leader who will help us reach out to young people throughout the state. Must have initiative and have good people skills. Call the same number.