No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has three pledges from Lafayette teachers by the end of the week ending Dec. 25.
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 | Thoughts on Critical Race Theory |
|---|---|
| Victoria Breakstone | I refuse to lie to young people about history and current events. I will not use curriculum that is incorrect about U.S. history. Children need to learn the history of the U.S. and the world so that it doesn’t repeat and the world becomes a better place. |
| Monica Moran | “no comment” |
| Erik Honda | Our district has used books based in Critical Race Theory like Ibram X. Kendi's How To Be Anti-Racist for student, staff, and parent book clubs, and implemented a race curriculum also based in CRT by Courageous Conversations. But hypocritically they also respond to parent complaints regarding race curriculum by threatening to discipline teachers and implement stricter oversight of curriculum, even when the curriculum is strictly in line with the district's courses of study. Educators need to be empowered, not disciplined or chilled, when they are on the front lines conducting these important conversations. |
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