The pledge was signed by three teachers the week before. It now has three pledges from Monroe teachers by the end of the week ending Jan. 22.
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 |
|---|---|
| Vanessa Small | We are tired of all the lies in our history books. "We the People" did not include women, Native Americans, Mexicans, immigrants, nor people of color. It's time to talk about the manifest destiny that killed a country's original inhabitants that doesn't even the Trail of Tears and entire page. Santa Anna was a dictator who was protecting the land his people had owned for centuries, and we don't even talk about the lynchings in Texas. American is only a melting pot idea that hasn't always welcomed the poor and lowly from other countries. Mainly, people of color were used, abused, raped, killed, and taught by Willie Lynch that the black man wasn't worth a dime. It's time to teach our children the real truth before they repeat it. |
| Jana Giles | The truth will set us free. |
| Vanessa Small | The Louisiana resource book for 7th grade social studies begins in 1754 (after the French and Indian War) through Reconstruction (including Wade Davis). There is a small picture of Crispus Attucks with a caption under it. After that through the Industrial Revolution, there is not mention of African Americans. When they talk about it, there is a PARAGRAPH. We are supposed to do outside readings of four American American authors' excerpts. Some of them are really hard. There is not mention of African Americans during the Civil War other than mentioning some fought for the Union. There's no mention of African Americans, aside from mentioning them as a group in a few sentences. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!! I bring in outside things and stories for the students to understand it. |
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