No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has eight pledges from Alameda teachers by the end of the week ending March 12.
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 Alameda teachers included “I believe it is important to teach history as honestly as possible. Students want to know the truth and can handle the difficult aspects of our past. We should give them the respect they deserve by teaching them all aspects of history - not just the celebratory ones.” and “I believe in the truth in our nations history, in its mistakes, in its successes, in its retelling to the next generation.”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Brandon Svec | “no comment” |
| Celina Kamler | If we fail to learn from the mistakes of the past we are destined to repeat them. |
| Ryan Brazil | “no comment” |
| Vikki Riverstone | I will teach the truth and advocate for social justice every way I can. |
| Manno Anthony | Two sources have guided me over the years:American Slavery, American Freedom, by Edmund Morgan, andthe Virtual Jamestown website.Through them, I discovered that Virginia’s planter class essentially created the concept of race in order to create racism, and separate poor whites and blacks from uniting to topple the corrupt Virginia order of things. With the settlement of South Carolina, that oppression deepened and spread. |
| Amber Cameron | “no comment” |
| Farah Giovanna Nations | I believe in the truth in our nations history, in its mistakes, in its successes, in its retelling to the next generation. |
| Meg Gudgeirsson | I believe it is important to teach history as honestly as possible. Students want to know the truth and can handle the difficult aspects of our past. We should give them the respect they deserve by teaching them all aspects of history - not just the celebratory ones. |
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