The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 9, the day before. It now has 18 pledges from New York 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 New York teachers included, "The truth matters. Justice matters" and "My students deserve to know the kind of world they live in and will inherit in order to make it a better place for everyone".
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 |
|---|---|
| Ariel Birdoff | I am a librarian. I fight against mis and disinformation. Disseminating truth is essential. |
| Barbara Barnes | No comment |
| Carmela Ortiz | My students deserve to know the kind of world they live in and will inherit in order to make it a better place for everyone. |
| Clark C. Kissinger | In order for there to be real and lasting change for the better: People have to fully confront the actual history of this country and its role in the world up to today, and the terrible consequences of this..." ~Bob Avakian, revolutionary leader |
| Dana T. | We should teach real history to children |
| Eleanor Grewal | No comment |
| James McDonald | I want my students to know the truth. I am not educating them to hate the United States, but to better understand and appreciate our nation and its ideals. |
| Julia Guggenheimer | It is time to start speaking truth to power. To deny that race matters affect all of our lives is destructive. |
| Kate Culligan | No comment |
| Lorraine Estrada | Education must address the inequities of power, wealth and class oppression, and the constant attacks on groups seeking social justice! |
| Moira Spillane | The truth matters. Justice matters. |
| Sandra Levin | our nation cannot move forward if it denies its white male privileged history. Our children need to know the truth so they can become responsible, empathic citizens. Justice for All! |
| Sara Lissa Paulson | There is no buy-in without trust. We have to face the harm. If we don’t, the caste system here will continue. Unchecked. And it doesn’t have to be this way. Comfort is worthless with bad conscience. It was hard to recount what I just learned about the drowning of a thriving Black community and important institute of higher learning to build a dam and recreational Lake Martin in Alabama. How did that happen? We need to face it: systemic racism. Facing the harm of racism in America is akin to recovery. Acknowledging that we (still) have a problem is the first step, and it is hard, but kids are sophisticated and creative thinkers. We need them to know this. I was heartened to hear that congenital twin Jubilee Singers earned enough money in their lifetime to BUY the plantation they were enslaved on. What an amazing accomplishment! These stories will be shared in classrooms. Thank you Langston League and poet Tyehimba Jess. Teachers keep learning, wheels keep turning, and we will make education people and planet-oriented, not empire-oriented. |
| Sari Beth Rosenberg | we must teach the truth |
| Shobana Ram | Our students and young people deserve to know and understand the true history of our country and learn how to be agents of equality, justice and progress in their respective communities. As trained, experienced educators, we must stand in solidarity to ensure that teaching truth in our classrooms is the norm, not the exception. |
| Tanya Kinigstein Pascoe | I am signing my name because our students deserve to know the truth. The violent and painful truths as well as the truths that reveal the power and brilliance that is their legacy. |
| Virginia Bernard | No comment |
| Yael Sacks | We can't heal from oppression without telling the true stories of what happened, and dreaming something new for our world. |
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