No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has one pledge from Willoughby 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.
The new Willoughby teacher wrote “I am signing this bill because the recently proposed legislation to dictate to teachers is censorship and the whitewashing of US history. If our kids are going to be prepared for the challenges of their future, we as their teachers need to foster an honest representation of the past, while giving them the critical thinking skills and the empathy to treat all people with respect and understanding. These proposed bills are indoctrination, where we teachers need to promote an inclusive history so young people can make informed decisions about their futures.” 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 |
|---|---|
| Richard Doringo | I am signing this bill because the recently proposed legislation to dictate to teachers is censorship and the whitewashing of US history. If our kids are going to be prepared for the challenges of their future, we as their teachers need to foster an honest representation of the past, while giving them the critical thinking skills and the empathy to treat all people with respect and understanding. These proposed bills are indoctrination, where we teachers need to promote an inclusive history so young people can make informed decisions about their futures. |
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