The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 25, the day before. It now has four pledges from Shavertown 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 Shavertown teachers included, "In order not to repeat history, we must teach the truth about history. Our role as educators is to imbue a sense of curiosity about the world, and provide resources for them to discover their own role in history. There are those will let fear rule them - fear that we will ask questions, challenge the status quo, and overthrow the systems that have kept those in power powerful for so long, and who believe covering up the truth will make it disappear. We can't let fear rule us; we must proceed from a place of love, empathy, curiosity, and care, and allow our students to see the full brutal, beautiful truth of the country they live" and "I agree and believe in what is said. I also think it's important and even necessary to say these things in the current political climate of this country".
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 |
|---|---|
| Deborah Lemieur | I agree and believe in what is said. I also think it's important and even necessary to say these things in the current political climate of this country. |
| Deron Albright | ...[Man] is in his actions and practice, as well as in his fictions, essentially a story-telling animal. He is not essentially, but becomes through his history, a teller of stories that aspire to truth. But the key question for men is not about their own authorship; I can only answer the question ‘What am I to do?’ if I can answer the prior question ‘Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?’" - Alasdair MacIntyre |
| Lauren Friedman-Way | In order not to repeat history, we must teach the truth about history. Our role as educators is to imbue a sense of curiosity about the world, and provide resources for them to discover their own role in history. There are those will let fear rule them - fear that we will ask questions, challenge the status quo, and overthrow the systems that have kept those in power powerful for so long, and who believe covering up the truth will make it disappear. We can't let fear rule us; we must proceed from a place of love, empathy, curiosity, and care, and allow our students to see the full brutal, beautiful truth of the country they live. |
| Linda Heeg | No comment |
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