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ProChoice Resources

Equal Time, Fair Talk

PCR initiated Equal Time, Fair Talk to systematically collect, analyze, and disseminate information about the Religious Right's activities in Minnesota schools, specifically the work of MCCL, and simultaneously to evaluate PCR's own effectiveness in school-based education.

The goals of this research were:

to determine how often information about abortion and reproductive choice is taught in public school,
determine the extent to which guest speakers are used to present this material,
identify the decision-makers for this type of education,
learn the content of these presentations and the style in which they were delivered,
learn the teachers' and students' perceptions and evaluations of these guest presentations.

Key Findings

11% of schools surveyed use outside speakers to address the subjects of abortion and reproductive choice.

The suspected predominance by MCCL of school-based education on these subjects was not reflected in the data.

PCR and MCCL received similar ratings from teachers; however, PCR was considered:

more accepting of students' opposing viewpoints,
more likely to encourage students' questions,
and less likely to include moral or religious content in their presentation.

Students appreciated PCR's value-neutral presentation and resented MCCL's efforts at persuasion.

Students considered personal stories more interesting and memorable than fact-based presentations. They felt that PCR should address the emotional side of these issues as well as the facts.

PCR and MCCL gave conflicting information and each avoided certain topics, which was confusing and frustrating for students.

Students found MCCL's video presentation extremely effective; its graphic depiction was seen as the truth about abortion.

Recommendations

Improve training of speakers to ensure professional quality presentations.
Add personal stories and/or visual aids to presentations.
Develop attractive factsheets and hand them out to every student.
Connect with extracurricular youth programs and investigate opportunities to address adolescents outside of school.
Disassociate the Speakers' Bureau from Pro-Choice Resources to gain a wider school-based audience.

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