No new teachers in Sacramento sign pledge in week ending Aug. 21 to teach Critical Race Theory

By Sacramento Standard

Aug 22, 2021

There were no new teachers in Sacramento who signed the pledge in week ending Aug. 21, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by three teachers the week before. It now has 27 pledges from Sacramento teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 21.

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 in Sacramento who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Tayah Kirschenmann	As soon as I found out about this pledge I knew I had to sign up. We won't let white supremacists stop us from teaching the truth!
Scott Chase	I refuse to particpate in a made up truth of history. Students deserve to hear the real truths, learn from the mistakes of the past and grow up to become life long learners always seeking to hear the real history of our past.
Jean Seto	It’s time to be truthful and authentic; only when we face the truth can we truly grow!
Carlos Rico	Teaching the truth about history is what I do because I am a teacher.
Kara Synhorst	I will not lie to students about American history. Further, I won’t let conservative web sites intimidate me into hiding. I believe in the ideals of this nation, and I, as a patriot, will help students learn how to uphold them.
Kristin Goetz	Growing up I was lied to about our history. I want to stop the lie and allow our future generations to know what has happened.
Gia Moreno	Lack of knowledge of the truth of American history is detrimental to the growth of our students and our nation.
Elena Cortez	The truth must be shared.
Dana Dusbiber	“no comment”
Jonathan Beach	My students and the future citizens/voters of this country deserve to learn the whole truth about the history of this country and the role it has played in shaping the world we know today.
Chris Padgett	Teaching lies about the past keeps us sick, and the only way we get healthy is by truthful diagnosis of our past.
Jeanette Providence	Our students deserve the truth - they can handle the truth!
Mary Stokke Vides	“no comment”
Karrie Bundsen	“no comment”
Ingrid Hutchins	“no comment”
Paul Brown	“no comment”
Rhonda Rios Kravitz	Exploring our shared history helps counter harmful rhetoric and helps foster empathy, understanding and knowledge
Richard Kennedy	I was lied to in my history classes as a student and it took years for me to unlearn white washed history. I want my students to know the truth based on evidence and fact, and to help them build a better future and world than the one they inherited.
Laura Roberts	I believe in the truth to battle the centuries-long struggle against oppression.
Rhonda Rios Kravitz	“no comment”
Nicole Silkman	We must teach the truth. We must teach our students to critically examine the history in order to understand the present and to make change in this world.
Stevie Cook	“no comment”
Maria Johnson	As a history teacher, an immigrant, and a bilingual person of color, it is my duty to make sure my students are informed of the truth.
Katherine Bell	“no comment”
Michelle Sweezey	We must acknowledge and understand our history in its truthful entirety in order to repair, learn, and do better.
Paula Turner	All people benefit from the truth.
Margi Park	It is time for the truth: Science & climate change; racism; gender & income equity; endangered species; prison reform; social justice; restorative justice; and more!