No new teachers in Lafayette sign pledge in week ending April 9 to teach Critical Race Theory

By West Contra Costa News

Apr 23, 2022

There were no new teachers in Lafayette who signed the pledge in week ending April 9, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has three pledges from Lafayette teachers by the end of the week ending April 9.

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. 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 in Lafayette who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
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.
Monica Moran	“no comment”
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.