The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 21, the day before. It now has 28 pledges from Durham 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 Durham teachers included, "It is critical that young children are helped to feel seen and safe as they build positive identities, build language to describe unfairness, and are supported to recognize and interrupt racism as unfair and hurtful patterns" and "I have an ethical responsibility to teach the truth. Because my students deserve to know the role of racism, heterosexism, sexism, and oppression throughout US history. Because grappling with the truth is necessary to transform".
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 |
|---|---|
| Ashley Brewster | I never learned complete history in school and I refuse to keep my kids from knowing truth. |
| Dawn Henderson | The truth is what will set us free |
| Emily Shepherd | No comment |
| Evan Greaves | I will not be complicit in the whitewashing of history and I refuse to be silenced. |
| Holly Hardin | I have an ethical responsibility to teach the truth. Because my students deserve to know the role of racism, heterosexism, sexism, and oppression throughout US history. Because grappling with the truth is necessary to transform. |
| Holly Jordan | No comment |
| Jessica Hauger | No comment |
| Jody Ellis | I believe in teaching children the truth just as I believe our national community, both adults and children, needs to come together in this country and acknowledge the systemic racism of our past while we move forward into a more just, compassionate and equitable future. |
| John Clark | I believe it is wrong to ban anything from being taught. We need our children to grow up to be good citizens and that requires that they have a good understanding of where we all came from in this country. Many times that requires that we learn about upsetting things that occurred in our countries and personal history. |
| Katherine Metcalf | No comment |
| Katie Kizzie | Critical race theory and racial & social justice education are crucial to changing our culture and society to promote the success of ALL people. We have to stop whitewashing history and teach the true history of our country. |
| Kendra Lampron | No comment |
| Kerry Holbrook | honesty and integrity are the hallmarks of a good person and citizen. I refuse to lie to children by teaching falsehoods or lie by omitting the truth of the way our country was built on the lives and backs of BIPOC people. As a white woman I am granted privilege simply because of the color of my skin. I will fight for equity and justice calling out structural racism and white supremacy as I see it. I will teach my students the truth in a developmentally appropriate way. |
| Kiara Thore | I believe in education’s transformative power and it requires the truth! |
| Kristen Bell | A diverse and accurate portrayal of history is important in not only the development of minority children, but all children. |
| Kyle Francis | We don't hate or despise the US. We are acknowledging the shortcomings of our nation, so that our youth can create a more perfect union going forward. |
| Lesley Mace | True reconciliation cannot happen until the truth of our history is faced honestly and bravely. It is because I love this country that I want to encourage students to see it for its triumphs and faults and to empower my students to make it a country that serves ALL. |
| Martha Gensemer-Ramirez | No comment |
| Mary Beth Braker | As James Baldwin reminds us, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. |
| Paula Salvio | No comment |
| Robert Gotwals | Teachers need to be able to address difficult issues in the classroom |
| Ronda Taylor Bullock Phd | We deserve to live in a society rooted in truth and liberation. Whitewashing our country's history will not get us there. |
| Sarah Meyer | It is critical that young children are helped to feel seen and safe as they build positive identities, build language to describe unfairness, and are supported to recognize and interrupt racism as unfair and hurtful patterns. |
| Shavonne Joyner | telling the truth will allow our country to heal and move forward. |
| Turquoise Lejeune Parker | Representation Matter and Literacy is Liberation |
| Victoria Mazur | No comment |
| Vivian Jablonski | Students deserve to know the truth! We have a responsibility to teach them the facts so they can come to their own logical conclusions. |
| Wesley Hogan | We owe all children (and adults) the full unvarnished truth about who we are today as a people, and who we have been, in order to have a chance at building a future together where we can keep getting closer to carrying out the country’s mission, to build a society where “ all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”We can’t build that society on who we wish we had been. It must be based on who we have been, and are today. |
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