No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has four pledges from Worcester teachers by the end of the week ending Feb. 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 Worcester teachers included “Our children need to be educated on the reality of what American was built upon. There should not be any type of ban on the truth. The history must be told, so future generations will learn and grow and end racism, and oppression in all it's forms.” and “our students, their families, and our communities deserve better and the truth will set us free.”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Sarah Michaels | Students deserve the opportunity and support to engage in deliberative dialogue/discussion -- to think deeply and critically -- reading the word and the world -- in collaboration with peers and other thinkers, texts, and experiences in the world. My goal as an educator is to promote community thriving -- for the many, not the few -- in our deeply troubled world, through collaborative knowledge building, mutual respect, and deep listening to others. Dialogue rather than authoritarian censorship is key. |
| Tracey Phillips | Our children need to be educated on the reality of what American was built upon. There should not be any type of ban on the truth. The history must be told, so future generations will learn and grow and end racism, and oppression in all it's forms. |
| Danielle Poche | our students, their families, and our communities deserve better and the truth will set us free. |
| Dana Huff | I refuse to lie to students. Only if students learn the truth can we improve the world. |
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