Here's what happened while our computers were crashed!!!!

This is our first email since the end of November. Here is what you missed. Our old and outdated computers finally were at their limit and crashed.  We had some scary moments when our technicians told us that we may have lost large amounts of data. Twelve years of intensive work in defending the family, religious liberties and pro-life issues were almost lost.  

Thankfully, we were able to recover our data files and we are taking steps to backup our files for the future. But, the event happened at a time we needed to be busy at the Statehouse defending a ten-year project - The Founding of America Documents Curriculum, which was passed in the 129th General Assembly.       

S.B. 96, the so-called World History Bill, was a threat to our American government and history curriculum currently being taught in Ohio high schools.  This new mandate would have required one full credit hour of social studies for world history. Our concerns and those of some legislators is that this new mandate would have crowded out what we accomplished three years ago when the Founding of America Documents Bill was passed.  "The World History Bill" was quickly moving in the Ohio House Education Committee.

Working from an outdated laptop and cell phone, we were able to generate calls and emails through the membership network of OCA and conservative coalitions to express the concerns about S.B. 96.  Thanks to the calls and emails of constituents, legislators heard their concerns and amended S.B. 96. They reduced it to one-half credit hour with no end of course exam, and they delayed implementation until 2017.  This is a much better bill now and one that will leave room for the maturing of the American government and history curriculum currently expanding in the Ohio classroom.  

We were pleased to hear from one of the proponents of S.B. 96 that one school district he visited was "doubling down" on American government and history studies. That, of course, was music to our ears.  There is still a long way to go with the full implementation of the Founding of America Documents Curriculum in all of Ohio's school districts, but with this latest development we are encouraged that the curriculum is safe for now.  

MISSED GIVING TUESDAY!

With our computers down, we also missed sharing with our membership the opportunity for Giving Tuesday to the work of OCA.  Of course with this challenge to our office computers, we are in need of funding to recover expenses and to pay for upgrades to our computer and office equipment.  Take the opportunity now and donate to the work of OCA. You can also make a year-end tax deductible contribution to the OCA Ed Fund, and just indicate it with your contribution. Donate today.  

Thank you and God bless you.