No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has seven pledges from Bellevue teachers by the end of the week ending Jan. 1.
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Eve Chan | “no comment” |
| Holly Huckeba | Thinking like a historian is a critical-thinking skill every teenager learns in high school. Thinking like a historian is an essential skill enabling future citizens to learn how to understand, analyze and identify FACTS. Students in public education must NEVER be told by their government which facts they are allowed to learn and which ones they are forbidden from learning. |
| Shannon Chancellor | I had taught for 15 years in Texas where I was forced to hide the truth from students. I won’t do it anymore. |
| Jessica Holloway | I teach a racially diverse population of students who deserve to be honored with honesty and respect. |
| Terry Jess | I will happily violate any law that tells me I must lie to my students and maintain white supremacy through the teaching of a false narrative of our history! Decolonizing our history, our minds, and our schools is the only path forward! Come at me! |
| Julia Morse | Civics education is more important now than ever. |
| Emi Morton | our children are going to create the future. |
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