No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has two pledges from Clayton teachers by the end of the week ending Jan. 15.
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 Clayton teachers included “As an educator it is my duty to teach students the truth. They will not be equipped for the challenges of this world by being spoon fed information that makes them comfortable. To improve our world we must face its history and the difficult truths it entails.” and “I became a teacher to help students understand our society and it’s place in the world and that requires honesty about who we are and where we come from.”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Linsay Osos | As an educator it is my duty to teach students the truth. They will not be equipped for the challenges of this world by being spoon fed information that makes them comfortable. To improve our world we must face its history and the difficult truths it entails. |
| Linsay Osos | I became a teacher to help students understand our society and it’s place in the world and that requires honesty about who we are and where we come from. |
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