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 Lebanon teacher wrote "as a parent and professional I am re-educating myself as I move through the deep feelings of betrayal that I have been taught my whole life a whitewashed version of America. I cannot be still and allow my own children and all of us to be fed an untrue version of both the past and the present. I want to get involved and be an ally and an advocate. The systemic oppression in current life cannot be changed until we talk, teach, and learn the truth of our past. “nobody's free until everybody's free.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr" 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. 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 | Thoughts on Critical Race Theory |
|---|---|
| Deb Thomas | as a parent and professional I am re-educating myself as I move through the deep feelings of betrayal that I have been taught my whole life a whitewashed version of America. I cannot be still and allow my own children and all of us to be fed an untrue version of both the past and the present. I want to get involved and be an ally and an advocate. The systemic oppression in current life cannot be changed until we talk, teach, and learn the truth of our past. “nobody's free until everybody's free.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr |
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