The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 24, the day before. It now has one pledge from Richland Center teacher.
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 Richland Center teacher wrote "As a professional educator, I cannot in good conscience teach an incomplete and/or inaccurate history of the United States to my students. To do so would do my students a disservice. The study and practice of history and historical thinking skills are vital in the development of an informed, engaged citizenry. Civic engagement is essential to the health and well-being of our nation." 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. 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 |
|---|---|
| Lea Hansen | As a professional educator, I cannot in good conscience teach an incomplete and/or inaccurate history of the United States to my students. To do so would do my students a disservice. The study and practice of history and historical thinking skills are vital in the development of an informed, engaged citizenry. Civic engagement is essential to the health and well-being of our nation. |
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