No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has 20 pledges from Lansing teachers by the end of the week ending Jan. 8.
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Jeff Gower | The truth matters |
| Chloe Hutcherson | I care about the real American history |
| Jill Horn | “no comment” |
| Stephanie Brokstad-Franks | “no comment” |
| Erin Bronstein | “no comment” |
| Kimberlyn Fauson | The legislators creating these bills are spinning a narrative that is simply incorrect. Teaching about oppression throughout U.S. history isn't divisive. It helps students understand how the past influences the present so that we can build a more perfect union together. |
| Andrew Tisdale | “no comment” |
| Megan Dewall | “no comment” |
| Travis Neller | It’s simply the right thing to do. History is learned because it helps us know what happened and why it happened. All information and events needs to be taught. |
| Rosaline Kuiper-Price | History should be taught from as many vantage points as possible. We need to be culturally responsive in educating our children. |
| Thomas Delong | “no comment” |
| Brittany Szombati | The truth matters! |
| Natalie Queen | Students deserve to know the truth |
| Katherine Franklin | White-washing history for the comfort of the privileged perpetuates racist systems and institutions. |
| Amber Butler | Truth matters. |
| Tiernan O’rourke | My students are smart. They can learn that history is full of struggles. They need to learn that history is full of struggles, so the future doesn’t have so many. |
| Dan Kemsley | Truth must prevail. |
| Todd Simon | These laws are detrimental to democracy and free speech. |
| Renee Fields | The truth matters. |
| Heather Wingett | “no comment” |
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