Critical Teaching Moments

By Joseph Landrum

There is no "bad" time for pro-life students to educate their classmates on the life and death issues of abortion and euthanasia. But critical years, such as this one, are a particularly good time to make sure that everyone knows the facts about what is going on in the U.S.

The pro-life issue is certainly "grist for the mill" in health, biology, philosophy, and religion classes. But government classes focusing on current events, even in public schools, certainly need to focus on the role of the life issues in our country's public policy debates. Educated pro-lifers can exercise a profound influence on attitudes in their local schools and communities.

Where to begin the educational process? Here are some of our most useful educational tools.

For teachers, students, and anyone else who needs a refresher, the Educational Trust Fund has, among its resources, five basic fact sheets to help you get started. First, we have "The Basics," a one-page front and back sheet going over simple facts that should roll off the tongue of any pro-lifer.

The front covers the highlights of fetal development, including the beginning of the child's heartbeat and the first measurable brain waves. We provide important statistics that help people understand the breadth and depth of the abortion culture. For example, there are yearly and daily abortion numbers, numbers of second- and third-trimester abortions, and a fascinating comparison of annual abortion numbers with the numbers of Americans killed in seven major wars.

The back side of "The Basics" includes results of a survey of women seeking abortions (published in 1988, but never repeated to our knowledge) that indicates the reasons why women sought abortions. A brief statement on polling data clearly demonstrates that the reasons women seek abortions are not reasons that most Americans support.

All of this can be used to get a good class discussion going. For example, comparing the survey data that illuminates why women are seeking abortion to the polling data which explains the public's views on abortion leads to obvious questions, such as why is the popular will to see more protective laws in place thwarted?

Second, the Trust Fund offers "Abortion in America: Statistics and Trends." The front lists annual abortion totals as compiled from the two major sources of numbers: the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) and the Centers for Disease Control. We explain the differences in these sources and provide an estimate, based on the current downward trend, of the total number of abortions since 1973.

The back of this fact sheet offers more detailed evidence of effectiveness to pro-lifers who have struggled for so long. We analyze not only the declining numbers of abortions in recent years, but also look at the numbers of abortions in relation to the female population of reproductive age and in comparison to live births.

The analysis leads us to conclude that pro-life educational efforts have resulted in fewer abortions and lives saved. Again, the data provides a perfect teaching opportunity.

Third, the Trust Funds offers "RU486: Risks and Dangers." A decision by the Food and Drug Administration may be just around the corner on whether this drug will receive approval for widespread distribution. This gives educators a perfect opportunity to discuss the roles of various branches and agencies of government.

Pro-abortionists attempt to portray RU486 and "safe and effective," making abortion seem as easy, quick, and painless as taking an aspirin tablet. It isn't, but it will take a lot of education to change perceptions. Those with Internet access should not fail to check out our lengthy Q & A section on RU486 found on our web page (www.nrlc.org).

"RU486: Risks and Dangers" offers a concise explanation of how this powerful two-drug regimen works, and discusses the studies dealing with complications and dangers. Page one also offers a look at a possible scenario if the drug were used in the U.S. as in France, projecting the estimated "failure" rate of the drug, the number of surgical interventions required to stop the bleeding, the number of transfusions required, etc.

The second page includes the story of the woman who nearly died from blood loss, even though the study's sponsors indicated that there were "no complications among 238 women who ended unwanted pregnancy." An Iowa doctor who saved her life considered near death due to blood loss a major complication.

Fourth, our four-page "Planned Parenthood: The real story behind the nation's premier 'family planning' agency" offers a more detailed look into the abortion-promoting policies and activities of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). The fact sheet includes discussion of the numbers of abortion performed at PPFA facilities, its lobbying activities against even modest pro-woman regulations of abortion such as informed consent laws and bans on partial-birth abortion, and PPFA efforts to bring abortion into "underserved" communities. A full page is devoted to the money involved, pointing out how much of PPFA's income comes from its abortion business.

The final page offers a brief look at the eugenic mentality that guided Margaret Sanger, the founder of PPFA, as well as a brief look at some successful efforts to prevent or set back the grisly work of PPFA.

Fifth, a new set of three related fact sheets reports on strategies employed to delay the opening of PPFA abortion clinics in various U.S. communities. These fact sheets could lead to a discussion of how grassroots groups can impact decisions on the local level. These fact sheets show that, while PPFA has steadily increased the number of affiliates performing abortions, concerned, motivated, and educated citizens were able to check its agenda. PPFA lost much of its appeal in these communities once people came to see the harm that comes from having an abortion clinic in the neighborhood.

Finally, we offer a one-page description of abortion techniques. A more detailed description is available in the booklet " Abortion: Some Medical Facts," which you may order or locate on our web page. All discussion of abortion must be grounded in facts, not rhetoric, and these resources can help. All of the recent attention to partial-birth abortion must not lead us to forget the destructive nature of any abortion.

These are just some of the resources available from the NRL Educational Trust Fund. Most of you know we have full-color guides on fetal development and partial-birth abortion, and information on euthanasia and other current critical issues.

The fact sheets, however, present a cheap and convenient way to spark student interest during this season when these issues receive a lot of play in the media. Call (202) 626-8809; write NRL Educational Trust Fund, 419 7th St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004; or send an e-mail to nrletf@juno.com for single copies of any or all of our fact sheets at no charge.

Educators, pastors, chapter heads, or anyone needing multiple copies may request originals fresh from the printer so you can copy and distribute them as widely as you like. Let us know how we can assist.