THE OPEN BOOK

Freedom To Learn introduced its message to the Lee County School Board at 6:30 P.M. on October 7. Dr. Santini directed the Board meeting as the members dealt with a wide range of topics. After approximately 90 minutes, the Board recessed for five minutes. When the Board returned, FTL was given 15 minutes, and Planned Parenthood was given 10 minutes to respond.

Joseph Jolin explained clearly and precisely the components of the message of FTL. Both sides of the abortion controversy can be presented in schools; they should be; and this opportunity has resulted from the U.S. Supreme Court's Casey decision. Joseph argued that the abortion issue should not be swept under the rug, that students should have the freedom to learn about the issue, and he urged the Board members to "open the windows and let some fresh air in."

Joseph was followed by Planned Parenthood, who had described themselves as watchdogs." After these presentations, approximately 15 people asked to address the Board. The comments were fascinating. "My child, who is not in your schools, will never come to your schools if you get into this," said one parent. Another said, "These kids live with this everyday; why shouldn't we educate them about it." It is an encouraging first start with Lee County. It is highly probable that we will have the opportunity to visit again. The media may have resorted to stereotypes more than they should have, but generally they were fair. It was a good start

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WHAT'S COMING UP?

FTL GOES TO THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTER'S CONVENTION:

We are making plans to go to the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention in Wahsington, D.C. on Feb. 1, 2, and 3 of 1998.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Our booth is strategically located at the bottom of an escalator. So, literally hundreds of people should be coming and going right by the booth. We must create an eye-catching booth and we need to ensure that our materials are distributed throughout the convention. We need to roam and to meet people.

This is a unique opportunity. It gives us the chance to take our message to those in the media throughout the 50 states.

We need contributions to make this possible. The trip will cost approximately $3,500. Much more about this trip in the months ahead.

BABIES IN CYBERSPACE
by Joseph Jolin
FTL Website Director
Isn't family life great ! Just imagine you just had your first baby, but your parents live thousands of miles away. You'd give anything for them to see that sweet little bundle of joy ... that little one you've been waiting for.

Well ... today, with a digital camera, you can have that dream come true. The only other things you need are a PC and a modem. Equipped with those few peripherals, you can e-mail your parents pictures of their new grandchild ... immediately !

Wow ! How simple life has become ! With a digital camera, one of the newest technological gadgets for the digital darkroom, all you need to do is point, shoot and download your sweet little offspring's photo to your PC, view it and off it goes into cyberspace and into your mom and dad's hands within a few seconds. No more film required ... no more developing to wait for. And in the event you don't like the first photo (maybe the baby isn't too photogenic yet), you just delete it and take more photos until satisfied.

The same for a friend or for any family member. You can send them a copy of the one you cherish via e-mail.

Again, suppose you're relocating to a new town and you're looking for a home. Don't you think it would be super if your real estate agent could electronically launch the picture of your dream home without you having to spend money spinning your wheels ?

I have a friend to whom several family photos had been downloaded, but a couple of them didn't quite meet his eye. And so all he did was he enhanced and improved them with editing software. I think he was using Paint Shop Pro. Where one of the pictures was too dark, he simply adjusted the brightness and contrast. Another photo had excessive entourage in it, so he simply "cropped it of its excessive baggage" as he put it to me.

As you can see, there are many things you can do with photos generated by a digital camera ... and have fun doing it ! All you have to do is let your creativity take charge.

And so ... no need letting the miles separate you from friends and family. A digital camera can bring you much closer to them. It's an immediate thing. It's almost like being there ! Isn't family life great ! __________

"here comes the Supreme Court..."
by Susane Dragonette
FTL Secretary

Yes, we've done mailings, we've done lunch with teachers and pastors, we've done lots of one-on-one, but, when we "hit the road", I think we found our niche!

On Sunday, September 10, at First Christian Church in Port Charlotte, the Board of Freedom To Learn felt like we had really pulled it all together. We were blessed to be invited into this large and loving congregation by Pastor Dale Roberts. Before an eager group of about 150 people we shared the history, mission and vision of FTL. Which, by the way, is not really our vision, it's God's vision. It's God's vision that everyone work to preserve, protect and defend the life of His unborn. For an awfully long time, all of us (you too, I'll bet) felt that the uphill battle might prove to be too much, and our strength too little. Well, here comes the Supreme Court. You know, the same Supreme Court who gave us Roe v Wade, to lend the force of law to help climb that hill, which, I might add, has been looking not quite so steep of late.

As we shared all facets of this good news with the folks at First Christian, I noticed something that finally clicked. We, the Board members, are so different from each other in practically every conceivable way. So different in fact that together, we make a complete, and darn good, show. I mean "show" in the best possible way. After all, we live in a "media" age where people don't tend to pay much attention unless the message is packaged in a diverse and interesting way. Among all of us, we managed to create a safe place to remember, study, cry a little, and definitely laugh. I'm beginning to think that God placed the 7 of us together just so He could have fun watching us have fun.

With several more church dates yet ahead, you'll be updated on the response as the excitement spreads. By the time we display FTL in Washington, D.C. in January, 1998 at the National Association of Religious Broadcasters Conference, our message and presentation will be fine tuned and you just may see one or more of us interviewed by the media. Won't you be excited to see that, particularly if you are a financial supporter of FTL ? We can only get to Washington if you help. A regular monthly gift of $10, 15, 25, or a one-time contribution will help give us the stability we need to travel to the places that we need to be ... for you and your children ... for all our children.

As a post-script: I received a call from a lovely Scottish lady. Her name is Rosemary Danforth. She is active in a crisis pregnancy center, The Women's Health Clinic, in Jacksonville. She called to say that she was sending in her donation to receive the newsletter and Links To Change, written by our own Dr. Beasley. One of her comments was, "I never thought I'd live long enough to see the Supreme Court on the side of the unborn !" I guess none of us did... isn't it great ! << <

Board members are almost always motivated by a desire to improve schools and to help the young. FTL is new ... and some resistance will develop for that fact alone. Once it is understood, we expect most people to be supportive.

Here are questions that every Board Member should think about:

Would you support informed choice like the U.S. Supreme Court did in 1992?
Is it unreasonable to ask a basic question like this one:

Is it legal to teach about the issue of abortion from all perspectives?
Or this:

Shouldn't our schools approximate the democratic values of the larger society?
How about this one:

Does a school board have a civic duty to inform those it serves what rights they have?
And this one:

If a community had the right to teach about all phases of abortion would it be right to withhold that information for political or personal motives?

We have had the opportunity to visit two churches, and more are on the calendar. Pastor Dale Roberts and the people at First Christian BROKE THE ICE.

Our first invitation. We received the red carpet treatment ... with a taped copy of our presentation afterwards. Pastor Roberts said some very kind words about FTL and he thanked us for the work that we were doing.

Because I have written about First Christian elsewhere, I will concentrate on our latest visit to Palm Tabernacle. Pastor Sloane had invited us a few weeks later. After a rousing half hour of music and a brief message, Pastor Rick turned the meeting over to FTL. Dr. Beasley talked longer than normal ... a good bit longer. We went over time, but Pastor Rick took time afterwards to say some special words, and the congregation would show their support for the efforts of FTL.

Like Pastor Roberts, Pastor Sloane thanked FTL. We have been wondering, though, who should say, "thanks."

Both evenings were great...

Freedom To Learn has received a great deal of press attention lately. A comment that seems to come up a great deal from people who think they are critics of FTL, is that our agenda is "too narrow." Some will say that FTL should have no involvement in developing a curriculum for a district because we represent one side.

Let's be clear. Planned Parenthood has had one full generation to urge that both sides be taught. They did not. Same with the NEA. Both groups may have believed they were taking the best course for kids. Still, free speech suffered.

Let's look at some facts. The NEA has been consistently one-sided, which was understandable during the days of Roe, when public institutions had to support abortion. But since Casey their track record is not good. Examples:

1992: the NEA offers $50,000 in grant money in every state to teachers who would promote the Freedom Of Choice Act (abortion through all nine months). In 1994, the NEA voted " not to vote on a proposal that endorsed teaching both sides of the issue." Also, not one article has been written in an educational journal in the last ten years that explores teaching the pro-life view. That's their agenda?

FTL calls for full information ...finally !!!

"You will make a mistake if you turn this in to a religious or a political argument"... Joseph Jolin

Note: a pastor spoke in favor of Planned Parenthood. He called FTL a group that was on the fringes of the right. I spoke to him afterwards and asked why he made such strong statements about us ... when he did not know us. He at least listened.John Beasley

We indicated to Planned Parenthood that we were comfortable with our position and that we would welcome a debate at a location of their choice and before an audience of their choice. No response, yet.

Is teaching about abortion illegal? Planned Parenthood said that it was. They are not correct on this.

I have not since supported some of the things we have in the schools ... like teaching about condoms. I have not supported the sex education program. But if we are going to have it, let's have it all. Let's tell the kids about abortion. (from the audience)

"I gave away the most beautiful 19 year old on this earth last weekend. She is my daughter and she has been a joy to me every moment since her birth. But I tried very hard to get her mother to abort her. I am so grateful she did not. Kids need to understand this issue. Let's not hide it from them. (from the audience)