No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has six pledges from Hyattsville teachers by the end of the week ending Sep. 18.
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 |
|---|---|
| Jon Van Camp | Teaching about race, the origins of race, and the nature of racism is not only key to understanding history, it’s key to understanding our world today. The efforts by governments to restrict the teaching of race can only be a detriment to our students and can only serve to reinforce white supremacy. |
| Shannon Jones | Our students deserve the truth. We can grow and be better but only if we are honest about our past. |
| Wendy Shenk-Evans | The number of proposed state level bills designed to silence discussion of systemic racism in our public schools demonstrates how prevalent resistance to an honest accounting of this nation’s history continues to be. We cannot change the future until we are truthful about the past and the present. |
| Aline Heffernan | Kids deserve to learn about all groups and different perspectives. Learning about different voices in history can only enrich people’s lives |
| Benjamin King | education can be a tool for oppression or liberation. Even as a white, cis-het male, I know none are free until all are free. I choose liberation. |
| Shane James | “no comment” |
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