The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 27, the day before. It now has four pledges from Vallejo 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 Vallejo teachers included, "I refuse to lie to my students and teach them an abbreviated version of history that erases the struggle and resistance and every day people" and "I refuse to lie to my students about history".
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 |
---|---|
Charquita Arnold | It is an aasault on truth and justice to require events that happened to not be communicated or taught. It is unfair and causes us to live in a world based on false ideas, half truths, and full lies. To repair our nation, we must face our history...all of it. |
Destiny Andrews | I refuse to lie to my students and teach them an abbreviated version of history that erases the struggle and resistance and every day people. |
Elivin Gueston II | I refuse to lie to my students about history. |
Kathryn Marocchino | I stand in solidarity with all the K-12 teachers who are being denied their right to teach the truth. As a professor within the California State University System, I am proud to know that our public institutions of higher learning have every intention of teaching CRT this coming fall semester, and will be closely scrutinizing in the classroom all the prejudice and racial inequities this country has perpetuated for years on minorities. Stand strong, educators! Don't let them win! If they try to stop you from teaching the truth, teach the truth anyway! And if they try to stop you again, every single one of you should walk off the job en masse! They can't fire every one of their teachers! |