Giving Talks in Schools

The ABCs of Classroom Education

By Dave Andrusko

"Your material was interesting, factual, and up-to-date. You really helped the students understand what is happening on life issues. The video was excellent and so current. Your presentation was a valuable experience for us."

High school teacher in Bloomington, Minnesota

George Allen, who was the coach of the highly successful Washington Redskins in the 1970s, once said, "The Future is Now." While Allen was talking about football, his observation is true for pro-lifers in two different senses.

We understand perfectly well that we are in this for the long haul, but we also know that refashioning public attitudes toward abortion and euthanasia is always a today job. Postponing and procrastination will never save the lives of the vulnerable.

Also, the "future" is in the hands of young people whom we can (and must) reach now! There's no better place to accomplish this than in schools.

Obviously no one can guarantee that every pro-life presentation you give in schools will be as well received as was the talk mentioned in the opening quotation, given by a member of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. But what you can be sure of is that getting invited to speak in public and private schools is one of the most important tasks - - short term and long term - - that your local group can ever undertake.

What follows offers some pointers about how to go about obtaining permission to discuss the life issues. Each school and every chapter is different, of course, so these are general observations.

Right off the bat there is good news: the content of many classes touches on abortion and euthanasia. To name just a few, there's American history, health/human resources, persuasive writing, women's studies, American government, political science, psychology, and sociology. But how to get in?

The best route in is a history of well-received talks. But what do you do when you are first approaching a teacher? Your best advocate is a student in her/his class. This is part of a larger point.

Teachers can't invite you if they don't know your organization exists and wants to be of help to them. Be sure to regularly send mailings to the appropriate teachers in public and private schools. That requires a little spadework to obtain names and subject areas.

A tool that will be very persuasive in getting a foot in the door is a flyer that is replete with comments from teachers who have found your talks to be genuinely educational. This tells teachers (and administrators) that you can be trusted to be responsible - - always a concern when outside speakers are invited in.

Another excellent way to make educators aware of your willingness/eagerness to come in to speak is to have a booth at teacher conventions. As is the case with any convention, attendees will have lots of free time. If you are there on the spot, you have a wonderful chance to interact one-on-one. (Having a booth at the county and/or state fair means that thousands of people, some of whom will be teachers, will be exposed to your materials.)

Odd as it may sound, sometimes your own members are not aware you have a Speakers Bureau. Publicize their availability in every way you can, for it's your members who are the ones with kids in school.

Just a few words about content. Teachers ordinarily abhor controversy. But there are many quietly "pro-life" videos. By that I mean videos that trace the incredible journey of the unborn from conception until birth.

Although this incident took place over 24 years ago, I remember like it was yesterday. My-then fiancee (now wife) and I were giving a talk in a high school in North Minneapolis. While girls are much more likely to seem to be paying careful attention, that doesn't mean guys aren't listening.

We had just shown the class a picture of an unborn child very early in development.

In a voice that combined a generous helping of "yeah, sure" with a hint of genuine curiosity, one boy remarked, "That's supposed to be a human being?"

All we said was, "That's what you - - and everyone else in this room - - looked like at three weeks." Hardly profound, but it worked! You could almost see the scales begin to fall from his eyes.

Your local chapter will have the basics - - books, flyers, pamphlets, brochures, student information packets, slide presentations - - for you to use. Most will also have videos, and CD-ROMs. (National Right to Life's Education Department also can provide you with many helpful resources.)

Interestingly enough, a tool that's been around forever remains arguably the most effective discussion-opener: fetal models. Even though they are mere plastic representations, they humanize and make concrete what typically is just an abstraction: "the unborn."

One last thought: never over-estimate how much people know about either prenatal development or the legal status of abortion. Most people know only generalities, and many of them will be incorrect.

So, go for it. Some teachers and administrators will give you the cold shoulder, to be sure.

But in most cases they will respond to a friendly, informed notice that you are available with (at least) an inquiry asking for more information. Once you have your foot in the door, you can establish a productive relationship that can last for years and years.