The pledge was signed by no teachers on Nov. 28, the day before. It now has 30 pledges from Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring teachers included, "Our children deserve the truth. It is essential that my teachers feel supported and empowered to teach their students the truth about our history as well as present day. Honoring their ability to think critically is essential for our democracy. We cannot move towards true justice and democracy without teaching the truth" and "Because we must teach the whole of our history. Loving one country is a lot like loving one's family. WE should not avoid difficult discussions, we embrace them with the hope that our unit becomes stronger in the end. We need to understand our country's flaws and glows both. We must understand where we have fallen short of the ideal so we can better strive to reach the ideal as each generation transitions into positions of leading her".
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 |
|---|---|
| Arely De Leon Barrientos | No comment |
| Beth Hanak | This is important! |
| Carla McEachern | No comment |
| Cassandra Heifetz | When our youth understand our past, no matter how painful, they will be better equipped to chart a better future. |
| Charles Alexander | Because we must teach the whole of our history. Loving one country is a lot like loving one's family. WE should not avoid difficult discussions, we embrace them with the hope that our unit becomes stronger in the end. We need to understand our country's flaws and glows both. We must understand where we have fallen short of the ideal so we can better strive to reach the ideal as each generation transitions into positions of leading her. |
| Chas Foster | While this type of legislation has not yet been proposed in Maryland, an erosion of any teacher’s freedom to speak the truth is an assault of all our freedoms. |
| Donna Sawyer | It is long past time for our children (and adults) to know the true history of our country! |
| Donna Sawyer | It's beyond time that the truth be told about the history of our country: the events that happened, the people who were negatively impacted, the struggles they endured, the contributions that they made. There is so much that has been omitted and it's time to change that. |
| Eileen Kraus-Jakobsberg | Facts and truth have become negotiable based on political desires. |
| Ellen Drakes | It is time for our history to be taught, and not sabotage, by people and systems that are not interested in being honest or have our best interest at heart. What are they afraid of??? History is supposed to be passed on not hidden. |
| Eva Sullivan | The most important skill we teach in high school is critical thinking. Students must learn to examine different points of view and express their own beliefs based on reasoning and evidence. |
| Holly Stephens | Suppressing the truth maintains systems of oppression and enables White (and male, straight, Christian, etc.) comfort. |
| Janet Vasquez | No comment |
| Jennifer Delorge McKeown | Our students deserve truthful history and honest discussions about race. |
| Jordan Love | Teaching the truth is the only way to justice. |
| Katherine Towle | No comment |
| Kristin Justice | No comment |
| Leslie Blaha | No comment |
| Marla McLean | Black History is American History. Black History is World History. There is nothing more patriotic than teaching truth, even when it is devastating and racist. Because by doing this, we are bound to the action of making change and creating a more just and compassionate country. Working to make a country better begins with honesty. |
| Mary Dent | Enough is Enough |
| Mary Hart | Our children deserve the truth. |
| Mary Hart | Our children deserve the truth. It is essential that my teachers feel supported and empowered to teach their students the truth about our history as well as present day. Honoring their ability to think critically is essential for our democracy. We cannot move towards true justice and democracy without teaching the truth. |
| Rahman Culver | No comment |
| Rahman Culver | those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. |
| Rebecca Funk | No comment |
| Robert Mostow | Facts are facts! |
| Sally Ingram | No comment |
| Shel Dockery | It is my belief (religious)to not lie but speak the truth. |
| Tiferet Ani | We can't create a just society if we are in denial about the legacies and ongoing dispossession and oppression that have created the present. |
| Yulisa Cruz | I am no longer standing with SHAME. I am no longer in service of its shenanigans. I want children to feel better about who they are and where they are. The truth is the only path to feeling better. We are worth more than racism, classism, sexism, and all the other -isms at play, when we exclude and marginalize groups. "Hatred is love that has lost its way. |
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