No new teachers signed the pledge the month before. It now has one pledge from Glen Echo teachers by June.
They are 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.
The new Glen Echo teacher wrote, “I feel cheated by the history I was taught, which limited my understanding of the world. As teachers of history, it is our DUTY to give true pictures and narratives about colonization, migration, and nation-building. Students want to learn from the mistakes of history- it gives them tools and information to work with.” when pledging to teach Critical Race Theory.
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. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.
Other states, such as Montana and Georgia, have denounced the teachings and are discussing a ban on critical race theory teachings.
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 |
|---|---|
| Dawn Tanner | I feel cheated by the history I was taught, which limited my understanding of the world. As teachers of history, it is our DUTY to give true pictures and narratives about colonization, migration, and nation-building. Students want to learn from the mistakes of history- it gives them tools and information to work with. |
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