They’re one of the thousands of US teachers pledging to continue educating students about the controversial Critical Race Theory, which explains racism is embedded in US culture and politics.
Comments from New Orleans teachers included, "My students already know about the racial and gendered issues of injustice which continue to destroy people, families, and communities in this country. It's my role to facilitate the safe discussion and dismantling of toxic racist and sexist culture through exposure to these ideas and where they come from. If we are to hope for a better tomorrow, we have to talk about the past and how it's contributed to where we stand as a broken nation today" and "I teach history, not propaganda".
Though the concept was first suggested in the late 70’s, it has recently exploded as a contentious issue between the American right and left in the last two years.
Many who signed the pledge are defying state bans on the teachings. Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.
Other states, such as Montana and South Dakota, have denounced the teachings without passing specific legislation.
In an interview with The Washington Free Beacon, Ashley Varner of the Freedom Foundation accused the Zinn Education Project of providing “left-leaning propaganda to teachers.”
| Teachers | Thoughts on Critical Race Theory |
|---|---|
| Caitlin Vanderwolf | My students already know about the racial and gendered issues of injustice which continue to destroy people, families, and communities in this country. It's my role to facilitate the safe discussion and dismantling of toxic racist and sexist culture through exposure to these ideas and where they come from. If we are to hope for a better tomorrow, we have to talk about the past and how it's contributed to where we stand as a broken nation today. |
| Elise Butler-Pinkham | No comment |
| Elishia McAllister | The only way to dismantle oppressive systems is to expose their history and foundation *accurately*. |
| Eric Schroeder | No comment |
| Franklin V.P. | The younger generation should be taught what the historical evidence has revealed about the impact of white racism and white nationalism on African Americans and other people of color throughout U.S. history. |
| Heather Harris | History matters. I will never participate in the silencing of truth. |
| Janell Regaldo | Children deserve to know the truth and to understand what is going on in their world. |
| Jennifer Latimer | No comment |
| Kathryn Gawor | No comment |
| Kimberly Hebert | I teach history, not propaganda. |
| Sophie Teitelbaum | teaching anything other than truth is perpetuating white supremacy. |
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