No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has eight pledges from Rio Rancho teachers by the end of the week ending March 26.
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 new Rio Rancho teacher wrote “I believe we have to stand together as educators against the continuing assault on education from reactionary forces that do not want unpleasant truths uttered in a classroom. I teach what Derrick Bell would recognize as Critical Race Theory and how various governmental systems and cultural responses from the largely white settler colonialists created consequences that benefited those deemed "white" and harmed those deemed "non-white." I am also more inclined to agree with Sean Wilentz and Gordon Wood regarding particular shortcomings in the main essay in the 1619 Project, however, and wish to be clear about that, too.” 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 |
|---|---|
| Mitchell Freedman | “no comment” |
| Joanne Johnston | Truth always matters in all learning. Institutional racism perpetuates poor health practices. |
| Timothy Green IV | We must counter hegemonic thought that is exclusionary and historically inaccurate. If not, we will continue to see the erosion of our democratic norms and continuation of racist policy, history, and laws. We must counter the rise of fascism and hate, as educational institutions are the last bastions of what true democracy can look like. "We must teach the truth about the past, in order to defend justice in the future." -I forgot the historian but he just passed. |
| Ollie Cline | History cannot be erased! We learn from our past and children need to know the truth. |
| Shauna Branch | I will always tell the truth. I lead both ethically and with integrity. Our children deserve to learn the truth so they can become better citizens as adults. |
| Mitchell Freedman | I believe there is systemic racism and sexism that factually exists throughout our nation's history. However, I wish to be clear I revere our Founders, revere much in our nation's history, and have concluded the lead 1619 Project essay overstated its thesis, and is flawed for reasons Gordon Wood and Sean Wilentz have identified and stated. On the other hand, I have long believed the Zinn Educational Center has much to offer all Americans, not merely high school history students, in terms of highlighting facts that have often been ignored, and provide an important set of perspectives in comprehending patterns in US History. I also believe Critical Race Theory, as it is defined as a scholarly pursuit (not the vague, cynical definitions provided by polemical political commentators), has much to offer in providing important contextual and factual information. The laws being passed in the various states, which attack CRT, Zinn Educational Center, the 1619 Project, etc. must be opposed and rejected as they will, if enforced, undermine the teaching of history in public schools. These laws are as dangerous as laws that forced or force science teachers to not teach Darwin's theory of evolution. |
| Kiran Katira | “no comment” |
| Mitchell Freedman | I believe we have to stand together as educators against the continuing assault on education from reactionary forces that do not want unpleasant truths uttered in a classroom. I teach what Derrick Bell would recognize as Critical Race Theory and how various governmental systems and cultural responses from the largely white settler colonialists created consequences that benefited those deemed "white" and harmed those deemed "non-white." I am also more inclined to agree with Sean Wilentz and Gordon Wood regarding particular shortcomings in the main essay in the 1619 Project, however, and wish to be clear about that, too. |
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