The pledge was signed by five teachers the week before. It now has 15 pledges from Boston teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 28.
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 new Boston teachers included “Children have the right to know the truth, they can understand the complexities of history (and present day), and they have the capacity to think critically about it and make their own meaning and understandings about the world they live in and how they want to impact and change that world.” and “Children have a right to the truth. How can we expect them to make good choices for the future if we lie to them about the past?”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Kelli Serbin | “no comment” |
| Judi Freeman | “no comment” |
| Scott Rush | My students have often discussed the importance of having open and at times uncomfortable conversations about our history. To quote James Baldwin, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." |
| Judi Freeman | our students deserve nothing less than the truth and the tools to confront this history. |
| Peggy Volcy | I want my students to know the truth so they can be better people for the future! |
| Michelle McElwaine | I respect young people, and the future is important to all of us. |
| Renee Spencer | “no comment” |
| Linda Sprague Martinez | “no comment” |
| Ellen Devoe | “no comment” |
| Sanaz Mobasseri | “no comment” |
| Catherine Arnold | More accurate understandings regarding the legacy that we have all been handed and carry within us as people living in this country are integrally tied to young people becoming better future participants in our national community---participants who are able to engage with clear-eyed, more fulsome understandings of the experiences of our nation’s many diverse stakeholders and the many and diverse issues and needs that make up the fabric of relevant concerns that each of us must be equipped to address as constituents of this nation. These understandings are essential for students to be adequately prepared to advocate for a U.S. democracy that values truth and equality, and pursues liberty and justice for all. |
| Nicole Uhre-Balk | “no comment” |
| Amber Lowe | Children have the right to know the truth, they can understand the complexities of history (and present day), and they have the capacity to think critically about it and make their own meaning and understandings about the world they live in and how they want to impact and change that world. |
| Holly Hennick-Marroquin | “no comment” |
| Kate Morton | Children have a right to the truth. How can we expect them to make good choices for the future if we lie to them about the past? |
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