The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 29, the day before. It now has 18 pledges from Newark teachers.
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 Newark teachers included, "As teacher educators, we have the responsibility to empower our future teachers to Teach Truth and to become change agents! It is our professional responsibility!" and "Teaching the truth to my students about who they are and who I am as a Black Woman has become one of the most important things to me as an educator. I am the mother of Black Children, the Wife of a Black Man, the Daughter of a Black Retired Distinguished Principal and Black USAF Brigadier General, Descendent of Slaves, Educator of children, anti-racist, social activist, and abolitionist of all things false".
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 |
|---|---|
| Carla Ferreira | In solidarity with all teachers committed to teaching critical thinking and to making their classrooms anti-racist spaces & against all forms of white supremacist intimidation and oppression. Teachers should not fear for their safety or their jobs for teaching accurate histories. If our lawmakers don't want our students learning about racist history in the US, stop creating it! |
| Darcy Greco | No comment |
| Denise Murray | without the next generation having a complete picture of how came to be the way we are, we as a whole society will never move past or solve the problems we have because of racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc. |
| Diane Codding | No comment |
| Elizabeth Farley-Ripple | I believe that we must confront the truths, good and bad, about our collective histories in order to grow as a country and communities. |
| Elizabeth Soslau | Because the truth matters and it is time to tell the truth. |
| Eric Sisofo | Hiding the truth doesn’t help us learn from past wrongdoings. |
| Ericka Alfaro | Students deserve to see themselves in the history they learn as they continue rewrite it and add their own narratives. |
| Grace Howley | No comment |
| Heather Anderson | I believe my students deserve to know all of the truth of our history and I could never lie about it or cover things up. They will use this truth to make the world much better than it’s ever been. |
| Leah Owens | No comment |
| Lizaday Rancap-Perez | I believe that our students need to know the truth. |
| Milagros Harris | I couldn't teach any other way. |
| Randye Harrison-Dixon | Teaching the truth to my students about who they are and who I am as a Black Woman has become one of the most important things to me as an educator. I am the mother of Black Children, the Wife of a Black Man, the Daughter of a Black Retired Distinguished Principal and Black USAF Brigadier General, Descendent of Slaves, Educator of children, anti-racist, social activist, and abolitionist of all things false |
| Sade Montano | No comment |
| Scott Parsons | I believe that it's important that my students know that we, their teachers, stand with them, and I believe it's essential that we give our students the knowledge and tools to work against systems of oppression in our country band around the world. |
| Shea Richardson | Our scholars deserve to learn about the historical atrocities of the past, so that they may draw parallels to the injustices committed against members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community. As educators, we should subscribe to teaching the good, the bad, and the ugly as it pertains to American History. We must NOT remain silent! If we expose our scholars, then we will be empowering them to lift their voices, combat oppression, and be the future change agents and torchbearers! |
| Stephanie Kotch-Jester | As teacher educators, we have the responsibility to empower our future teachers to Teach Truth and to become change agents! It is our professional responsibility! |
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