No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has 37 pledges from Sacramento teachers by the end of the week ending March 12.
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 new Sacramento teachers included “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.” and “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.”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Rachel Maeroff | “no comment” |
| Rebecca Frederickson | I refuse to lie to students about the history of this nation! |
| Eva Turner | Only the truth is worthy of our time and breath. |
| Kayla Ulrich | “no comment” |
| Mondo Vaden | The honesty about what has happened in our history is not wrong. It is something that must be addressed truthfully in order to end the inequity that results when the full story and perspectives are not known. Students deserve unbiased history. The fact that it challenges norms does not negate its necessary value. |
| Andrea Moore | I teach truth |
| Ruth Lindahl | My students are the faces of underserved and marginalized people, from the US and around the world. I have a responsibility to detect the white-perspective biases of the curriculum and the entire educational system, and infuse culturally responsive material that celebrates the genius and joy of all my students. |
| Fabiola Flores | our children deserve to know the truth. My multiracial daughter has the right to know how the United States treated her black ancestors! Teachers need to |
| 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! |
| Andrea Moore | “no comment” |
| Katherine Bell | “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. |
| 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! |
| German Rios | I am standing on the side of justice. |
| 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” |
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