The pledge was signed by no teachers on Feb. 16, the day before. It now has four pledges from Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee teachers included, "I am committed to preparing my students for the future. In order to confront the root causes of racial conflict, bigotry, and discrimination, they will need to understand the unsettling path that brought us to where we are. In this current climate of whitewashing and boldface lying about our history, students need to know the truth in order to speak truth to power. I envision my students' generation righting the wrongs of slavery and discrimination and contributing to a positive world where all can live free and freely" and "All children deserve to learn the truth about the country and the world they live in. The truth should not be hidden to appease the feelings of a certain group. The atrocities that were committed against the First Peoples and the Africans needs to be rectified. We will continue to stay stagnant and be at odds in this country if the truth is never exposed. Learning the truth will provide an opportunity for healing, growth and real partnership amongst citizens".
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 |
|---|---|
| Barbara Paulin | as an educator, I have an obligation to speak truth to all students seeking knowledge and the legislation being sought by the Republican Party means allowing the corruption of truth by boot-stepping racists. |
| Bryan Williams | I am committed to preparing my students for the future. In order to confront the root causes of racial conflict, bigotry, and discrimination, they will need to understand the unsettling path that brought us to where we are. In this current climate of whitewashing and boldface lying about our history, students need to know the truth in order to speak truth to power. I envision my students' generation righting the wrongs of slavery and discrimination and contributing to a positive world where all can live free and freely. |
| Cedrita Demus | All children deserve to learn the truth about the country and the world they live in. The truth should not be hidden to appease the feelings of a certain group. The atrocities that were committed against the First Peoples and the Africans needs to be rectified. We will continue to stay stagnant and be at odds in this country if the truth is never exposed. Learning the truth will provide an opportunity for healing, growth and real partnership amongst citizens. |
| Heather Garcia | No comment |
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