NYC Gazette

There were no new teachers in Brooklyn who signed the pledge on Jan. 25, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 24, the day before. It now has 95 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 this is important" and "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".

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
Addie Male	No comment
Adriana Discipio	The truth is important. All stories and perspectives should be told. Teachers have a responsibility to ensure their students are informed so that they can participate in our democracy.
Alejandra Suarez	it is the RIGHT thing to do!
Alivia Nuzzo	I believe that learning the truth can help us move toward collective liberation.
Alma Rodríguez	Teaching students the truth is essential to my ethics as well as their well being. They need to know how this country came to be, so that they can be agents of change.
Alyssa Smith	No comment
Amanda Byam	In order to bring up and teach the leaders of tomorrow, who will make great changes and strides in our world & community, they need to know where we came from and be exposed to ALL SIDES of history! Banning a curriculum is CENSORSHIP. A lot of people would be up in arms if many of the white-focused, one-sided patriotic teachings were banned from classrooms today. Therefore, this should not be done on the other side. Our students deserve to know the whole truth and multiple viewpoints of history.
Andrew Haglin	I believe students need to know the true history of our country if we hope to ever hope to address the prejudices and structural inequalities that persist to this day.
Arsenia Reilly-Collins	No comment
Benjamin Otto	ignoring our true past will cause us to repeat our blunders. Healing starts with truth and this country can be great, so long as we are willing to look honestly at our past, present and possible futures.
Brenna McLaughlin	No comment
Brenna McLaughlin	I am committed to the un whitewashing of history in American.
Brett Baron-Marianetti	It took forever for the truth about the development America to become part of mainstream instruction nationwide and we are not going to allow an ever-shrinking group of White and mostly male power holders to turn back the clock now because they fear their guaranteed advantage is eroding.
Brooke Peters	No comment
Caitlin Walsh	No comment
Danielle Bullock	No comment
Deena Heller	If we don’t teach students the truth, they will live and act in lies.
Denise Farrelly	The truth in history is sometimes painful, harsh, and humiliating. It sometimes seems easier to sugarcoat our story. Nevertheless, the truth is absolutely necessary, even for young children. Teaching them to think critically and deeply about the multiple perspectives and stories contained in our nation’s history can help prepare them to shape our future as citizens in a democratic society.
Dianne Ramdeholl	No comment
Elena Jaime	learning about justice and those who fight for it allows all children to reclaim their humanity.
Emily Todras	Our kids need to know the truth in order to create a better reality.
Erin Carroll	No comment
Henry Mills	I am not going to tighten a blindfold around the eyes of my students.
Hom Skoolkids	No comment
Inan Barrett	It’s due time that we tell the truth about this nation. Only then will we be able to make true progress and become a truly great nation.
Isidoro Rodriguez	Education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet for solving the problems in this country
Jaime White	We must free history to free ourselves
Jamee Schleifer	I am interested in future generations to be educated and not indoctrinated about American history. I believe if complete history is taught, empathy for other people can be increased. I am 62 years old and I am learning more now about history then I ever did in all my years in school. As a former public school dance teacher, I was told bu classroom teachers...if it’s not on the test, the teachers don’t teach it. Additionally, subject teachers were so overwhelmed with teaching to the test that there was never any time to even supplement their classrooms. Lesson plans; letters home; books and reading materials are checked by administration and YouTube bans certain video for schools. If schools are to move forward, parents and teachers need to work with their administrations and get the conversation started about how to teach people’s history.
Jennifer Garcia	I believe that true education,freedom and empowerment come from truth.
Jerry Lim	No comment
Jessica Helton	as a Black woman, I cannot stand in front of my students and pretend that the systemic racism that I have seen and experienced personally isn't happening.
Jessie Barker	It is our responsibility as agents of change to teach the truth. “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced,” James Baldwin
Jillian Gaeta	No comment
John Antush	No comment
John Meredith	“That which is not just cannot be law.” — William Lloyd Garrison “When you see the good fight, get in it!” —Vernon Johns“Good trouble.” —John Lewis
Joy Canning	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.
Junior Tidal	No comment
Karla Misjan	No comment
Katie Moylan	we can’t form a more perfect union without recognizing the times we’ve fallen short of that aspiration and learning about the opportunities we have to grow.
Keith Brooks	i could write a book about why i'm signing. actually, i am writing a book to be titled "MythAmerica: the Hidden Histories, Dirty Little Secrets, Half-Truths and Outright Lies of Amerian History
Keith Brooks	we need to mount a major counter-offensive against this right wing attack on teaching what really happened under the cover of the attack on critical race theory !
Kelly Walker	the only way America lives up to its promise is through telling the truth to our young people. Only then might this country become as inclusive and as free as it's always promised to be.
Kim Uggerholt	No comment
Kimron Thomas	No comment
Kimron Thomas	The GOP wants a fight and they’re gonna get it.
Laurel Digianni	No comment
Lauren Prusecki	No comment
Lee Schere	Our democracy depends on a full and true reckoning with this nation's past!
Lindsay Cruz	Students deserve to learn the true history of this country and how it has impacted the world we live in today.
Lindsay Shields	No comment
Louisa Pregerson	We cannot move forward with lies or denial about the past
Marc Handelman	No comment
Maria Falgoust	I believe this is important.
Marjorie Charles	History shouldn't be hidden or it will be repeated.
Mary Couri	No comment
Maureen Stewart	students need to be critical thinkers by examining history through many experiences, perspectives, and lenses. Historically, there has been racial oppression and this oppression still exists today which students deserve to know in order to enact change.
Melissa Singer	The truth matters.
Michael Debartolo	No comment
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 McQuillan	We seek truth with our students to acknowledge, understand and address the moral dilemmas that divide the nation and defy our democratic ideals. Deep thought breeds actions sowing the spirit of community that all of us deserve and to which we are entitled.
Michael Schulman	No comment
Michele Hamilton	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.
Michelle Kaba	No comment
Mikaela Whitcomb	No comment
Mir Finkelman	words matter and truth matters!
Miriam Stanford-Cusack	No comment
Nandini Sinha	Teaching facts are important.
Nathaly Warner	No comment
Nicollette Ruiz	Students need to know the truth in order to engage in critical thinking about the world around them!
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.
Rachael Barasch	No comment
Rachael Sullivan	No comment
Roger Green	An education that censors truth, facts, and a scientific method concerning how the concept of race is socially constructed and has been orchestrated by some to rationalize the enforcement of institutional racism within the legislative process, courts, and public institutions of our nation is a moral imperative for a citizenry that must embrace a community of inquiry as it aspires to form a more perfect Union.An education that encourages a critical and active citizenry is the life blood for an evolving democratic- republic.
Sabrina Alli	No comment
Sarah Konowitz	Truth hurts but lies kill, and if we don’t teach it, who will???
Sheetal Shah	Howard Zinn taught me everything I know
Staver Klitgaard	No comment
Stephen Simons	Admirer of Zinn
Sunisa Nuonsy	The truth matters
Suzannah Schneider	No comment
Tanishia Williams	I believe in equity and inclusive instruction.
Thor Tillberg	No comment
Tracey Scronic	... all people deserve to know the truth about the history of our country and its role in the persistence of oppression across the globe. Teaching the truth is the best way I know to tear down the power structure that maintains the oppressive status quo.
Tracy Garrison-Feinberg	a true understanding of American history acknowledges our entire past, not just the celebratory moments or "pale male" centered history. Attempts to deny our complicated past doesn't make students more patriotic - it teaches them that it is okay to lie or omit whatever is unpleasant. Teaching history isn't supposed to make us just comfortable or make us full good - it is supposed to challenge us and show us where we can do better, for everyone!
Tracy Garrison-Feinberg	the truth matters and it is our job as educators to provide our students with the tools they need to think critically as they examine our past and our present.
Veronica Sousa	No comment
Virginia Cooper	No comment
William Ehrenfeld	Our children deserve the truth!
William Naess	No comment
William Noling	No comment
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.