The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 25, the day before. It now has four pledges from Orinda 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 Orinda teachers included, "I cannot in good conscience willingly frame US history with a single (White) perspective. My students deserve to have an honest and inclusive picture of American history. Anything else is revisionist history" and "I am signing this petition because I believe it's important for my students to learn about the world in which they live - from the ancient past to the present day - and engage in discussions of challenging issues with each other in a safe space. In the wake of George Floyd's murder and local BLM demonstrations, recent graduates of our school district complained at school board meetings that they were not prepared for the complexities of the "real world" when they left the bubble of our homogeneous community. I am determined to provide my students with the preparation they need to better understand and transform the world around them as citizens of their community, country, and world".
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 |
|---|---|
| Alison Waterman | I am signing this petition because I believe it's important for my students to learn about the world in which they live - from the ancient past to the present day - and engage in discussions of challenging issues with each other in a safe space. In the wake of George Floyd's murder and local BLM demonstrations, recent graduates of our school district complained at school board meetings that they were not prepared for the complexities of the "real world" when they left the bubble of our homogeneous community. I am determined to provide my students with the preparation they need to better understand and transform the world around them as citizens of their community, country, and world. |
| Charles Shannon | Teachers have a constitutional right to teach people’s history. |
| Kent Grelling | I believe |
| Susan McGill | I cannot in good conscience willingly frame US history with a single (White) perspective. My students deserve to have an honest and inclusive picture of American history. Anything else is revisionist history. |
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