The pledge was signed by no teachers on March 12, the day before. It now has 10 pledges from Jackson teachers.
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 Jackson teachers included, "I want my students to have the critical thinking skills to undo past harm without upholding the structures that perpetuate it" and "Students deserve to learn the truth through primary documents and texts, both non-fiction and fiction. This is what I want for not only my students, but for my own children as well. When we give them critical thinking skills and fully formed, honest information, students can and will make their own decisions about what is “true.” That is what those who oppose truth in education fear most".
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 |
|---|---|
| Anita Derouen | No comment |
| Ashleigh Elder | No comment |
| Beau Menard | We cannot begin to fathom our futures until we fully examine our past. |
| Drew Overholser | I am a history teacher, not a propagandist! |
| Karen Jenks | No comment |
| Katie Freeliegh | I am a parent and I will teach my children about real honesty and real critical thinking. When they get taught about the slave trade I will help them explore the centuries of the African slave trade before America was even discovered. We will explore who from what tribe was selling who from what other tribe. We will look at the economics and how slavery was not actually outlawed in Africa until the 1920s. We’ll look at how many people in America owned slaves and if underprivileged whites were also treated as slaves. We’ll look at how most of the transatlantic slaves went to South America, Mexico and the islands. We’ll talk about how slavery was ended in the US by White people and the substantial human and financial expense of that and how it had a ripple effect through the world. If white atrocities are studied say against Chinese building railroads, I will expose them to Chinese atrocities in ancient and modern times. I will do the same for stories against blacks, browns and natives. Clearly illustrating that human atrocities are a human condition not a white one. I will look at Critical Race Theory critically and point out its flaws in logic and fact. I will point out that white people have a lived experience also and any color lived experience does not cancel that out, they are equal. I will point out that white majority in US is just as ok as Hispanic culture majority in Mexico, Chinese culture majority in China and black culture majority in Africa etc. This is all truth, regardless of its inconvenience to any agenda. |
| Laurie Carroll | It is imperative that our children know the truth about the foundation of this country and the truths behind the racism that existed throughout our country's history. |
| Rob Campbell | ...it is my job to teach the truth to my students. I promise them at the beginning of every school year that the one thing I will never do is lie to them. We cannot learn from our past if we don't know what it really is. The truth about America's history is long overdue to be told. |
| Tarasa Brierly | Students deserve to learn the truth through primary documents and texts, both non-fiction and fiction. This is what I want for not only my students, but for my own children as well. When we give them critical thinking skills and fully formed, honest information, students can and will make their own decisions about what is “true.” That is what those who oppose truth in education fear most. |
| Vilas Annavarapu | I want my students to have the critical thinking skills to undo past harm without upholding the structures that perpetuate it. |
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