The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 9, the day before. It now has 15 pledges from Brooklyn 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 Brooklyn teachers included, "I believe that learning the truth can help us move toward collective liberation" and "Immigrants experience racism on many levels. If intervention in their education to become English speakers does not occur, racism and misinformation is propagated and white supremacy is made stronger. It is our duty as teacher of ELLs to commit to anti-racism education".
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 |
|---|---|
| Abigail Kirchman | No comment |
| Alivia Nuzzo | I believe that learning the truth can help us move toward collective liberation. |
| Dianne Ramdeholl | No comment |
| Elena Jaime | learning about justice and those who fight for it allows all children to reclaim their humanity. |
| Hom Skoolkids | No comment |
| Judy Chase-Marshall | It is important that we teach our children the truth and get an accurate account of history from reliable, viable courses. |
| Michael Debartolo | The only way we can dismantle white supremacy is by naming it, and understanding how it shapes society today. The dignity, safety, and equity of BIPOC in this country should never be compromised. Teach the truth so we can have the knowledge and tools to build the world we claim to live in. |
| Michael Schulman | No comment |
| Michelle George | Choosing to teach the truth is choosing antiracism. We can't continue to pretend that police kill more black people and more of us are incarcerated because criminality is in our DNA. We can't understand policing without knowing about slave patrollers, black codes and jim crow. If we are to change America into the antiracist society it could be, we need to begin exposing the truth wherever we find it hidden. |
| Michelle George | Without truth this country will never get to its promise. We cannot continue to live as teach in lies around race and the genesis Of inequality as we talk about America exceptionality in the same breath. America will survive the truth. |
| Nathaly Warner | No comment |
| Polly Garcia | Immigrants experience racism on many levels. If intervention in their education to become English speakers does not occur, racism and misinformation is propagated and white supremacy is made stronger. It is our duty as teacher of ELLs to commit to anti-racism education. |
| Sarah Konowitz | Truth hurts but lies kill, and if we don’t teach it, who will??? |
| Tanishia Williams | I believe in equity and inclusive instruction. |
| Yvette Silver | Students deserve to know the truth and be granted the freedom and independence to form their own opinions and to arrive at their own conclusions, based on the trusted facts they hear from their teachers mouths. |
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