Durham Reporter

There were no new teachers in Durham who signed the pledge in June, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by 29 teachers the month before. It now has 29 pledges from Durham teachers by June.

They are 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. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.

Other states, such as Montana and Georgia, have denounced the teachings and are discussing a ban on critical race theory teachings.

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
Bruce Robbins	I believe in a classroom that is a culture of thinking. In such a classroom students are asked to confront the discipline in a problems based, inquiry format. This allows students to create evidence based conclusions. These bills will prevent students from creating evidence based conclusions.
Lesley Mace	The act of teaching truth does not divide us, it serves as a way for students to identify the inequities in our society that divide us so that we may build a stronger community and nation where we all thrive.
Kiara Thore	I believe in education’s transformative power and it requires the truth!
Turquoise Lejeune Parker	Representation Matter and Literacy is Liberation
Emily Shepherd	“no comment”
Jessica Hauger	“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.
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.
Kristen Bell	A diverse and accurate portrayal of history is important in not only the development of minority children, but all children.
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.
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.
Angie Ma	I pledge to teach the truth and refuse to lie about the role of racism, sexism , and oppression.
Robert Gotwals	Teachers need to be able to address difficult issues in the classroom
Evan Greaves	I will not be complicit in the whitewashing of history and I refuse to be silenced.
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.
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.
Victoria Mazur	“no comment”
Kendra Lampron	“no comment”
Holly Jordan	“no comment”
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.
Dawn Henderson	The truth is what will set us free
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.
Shavonne Joyner	telling the truth will allow our country to heal and move forward.
Katherine Metcalf	“no comment”
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.
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."
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”
Ashley Brewster	I never learned complete history in school and I refuse to keep my kids from knowing truth.