The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 24, the day before. It now has one pledge from Damascus teacher.
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 Damascus teacher wrote "I see these discussions and histories bring students together in mutual cooperation as they work toward a better American and better future for all. They are not divisive. They help us to understand each other and the world we live in, and to be active citizens." 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 |
|---|---|
| James Jeffrey-West | I see these discussions and histories bring students together in mutual cooperation as they work toward a better American and better future for all. They are not divisive. They help us to understand each other and the world we live in, and to be active citizens. |
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