No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has five pledges from Emeryville teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 28.
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Patrice Scinta | “no comment” |
| Steve Bronson | To ban or defy the truth of our nation's history is to repeat it. We need a reckoning withour past to move forward to complete racial and social justice. If I had taught social studies II would have certainly used Zinn's The People's History of the United States as my textbook and guide.I always encouraged my social studies colleagues to do the same.Knowledge is power. Knowledge is transformation. |
| Akemi Mercedes | everyone deserves an opportunity to learn the truth |
| Susan Andrien | Young people deserve to know the truth about history and I will not be a part of white washing of history. The lie hurts us all. |
| Pietro G. Poggi | I believe in the academic freedom to expose students to new ideas and accurate portrayals of both history and colonial modernity—and the First Amendment. |
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