The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 22, the day before. It now has four pledges from Birmingham 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 Birmingham teachers included, "Our students deserve to be taught the truth in American history. Teachers like myself also deserve the autonomy to teach all facets of the curriculum they are responsible for covering; that includes the parts of history that reactionaries, white supremacists, and politicians who pander & enable these people, want to gloss over and blot out in the history books. It’s the teachers who are the professionals and know their content- not these noise-makers. Let’s keep #TeachingTruth as we always have!" and "We already are committed to teaching true, difficult, inclusive history that honors all the students in the classroom and ones that aren’t represented in our small school. I believe that our society will change as we give every student access to true history. Our students become witnesses to history and will grow into magnanimous citizens, activists, educators!".
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 |
|---|---|
| Amanda Deter | We already are committed to teaching true, difficult, inclusive history that honors all the students in the classroom and ones that aren’t represented in our small school. I believe that our society will change as we give every student access to true history. Our students become witnesses to history and will grow into magnanimous citizens, activists, educators! |
| Wes Lybrand | No comment |
| William Goble | Our students deserve to be taught the truth in American history. Teachers like myself also deserve the autonomy to teach all facets of the curriculum they are responsible for covering; that includes the parts of history that reactionaries, white supremacists, and politicians who pander & enable these people, want to gloss over and blot out in the history books. It’s the teachers who are the professionals and know their content- not these noise-makers. Let’s keep #TeachingTruth as we always have! |
| William Goble | Teaching American history correctly and not through a biased faux-patriotic/right-wing lens is intellectually and morally important. I will not cave in or be pressured in teaching the subject I love so much this way. |
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