The pledge was signed by 13 teachers the week before. It now has 14 pledges from Vancouver teachers by the end of the week ending Feb. 19.
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.
The new Vancouver teacher wrote “Critical Race Theory embraces the concepts of race and racism and tasks itself with honest, factual, dialogue that helps to bring understanding to complex issues. I am disheartened by others who try to vilify CRT, but not racism. I am disheartened to have those in Christianity or any institution change the narrative to one's own purposes, usually to whitewash our history at our own peril because it is "uncomfortable". We cannot strive for a more fair and equitable nation if we don't learn from the past. We cannot be society that exemplifies the values in the Bill of Rights, if we legislate laws and policies that promote some people over others. CRT is tantamount to fighting injustice and ignorance.” when pledging to teach Critical Race Theory.
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 |
|---|---|
| Carol Obenour | As a former teacher; a parent, grandparent and citizen of the world, I wish to continue to support quality in education: giving students the opportunity to learn from the past in such a way that they can think critically. In order to think critically, you need to know what you believe and why. We need to continue to give students credit for being able to learn how society and civilizations have behaved in the past and use that knowledge to make evolved decisions both individually and collectively as they move forward into their futures. Therein lies any hope we may have for an enlightened global co-existence and the healing and protection for this planet. |
| Desiree Hellegers | Students deserve more than white-washed history and white supremacist lies. The day we knuckle under to propaganda and racist lies is the day we stop having any claim to the role of teachers. |
| Cathryn Chudy | Children deserve to know the truth and will not trust adults who deceive them by restricting their access to the truth. |
| Shelly Stafford | It is important and vital that we talk about our history as a whole and stop glorifying the violence dealt by the white colonizers. |
| Desiree Hellegers | The assault on history is an assault on democracy. |
| Jackie Taylor | It is our role as educators to teach our students how to find and know the truth, how to determine credible sources and how to think critically. |
| Aimee Nixon | The truth matters. |
| Amberlynn Lane | We are teaching about race either way, intentionally or not. I choose truth about our past with hope for a better future. |
| Amberlynn Lane | Teaching truth is not divisive. Tracing children to think for themselves is not brainwashing. I believe in children to understand the difference between right and wrong. |
| Cameron Brothers | Special Education students are some of the most vulnerable and overlooked students when discussing equity issues in education. I pledge to teach my students the truth about our history at a level and in a manner at which they will best be able to comprehend, so they can take their rightful place in public instead of continually being forced to the margins. |
| Amelia Francisco | “no comment” |
| Courtney Yamamoto | Our students need to know and acknowledge the truth about our history. |
| Chelsea Hendryx | “no comment” |
| Gayle Horwitz | Critical Race Theory embraces the concepts of race and racism and tasks itself with honest, factual, dialogue that helps to bring understanding to complex issues. I am disheartened by others who try to vilify CRT, but not racism. I am disheartened to have those in Christianity or any institution change the narrative to one's own purposes, usually to whitewash our history at our own peril because it is "uncomfortable". We cannot strive for a more fair and equitable nation if we don't learn from the past. We cannot be society that exemplifies the values in the Bill of Rights, if we legislate laws and policies that promote some people over others. CRT is tantamount to fighting injustice and ignorance. |
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