The pledge was signed by no teachers on Feb. 24, the day before. It now has five pledges from Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem teachers included, "I refuse to lie to children, and I am not afraid to tell the children the truth. The ancestors require that much!" and "It is an immoral action to pretend as if oppression and discrimination has never happened or isn't currently happening. Lying to students only further shows that systemic discrimination is alive and well. Students need to know the truth so they can take the truth and make change".
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 |
|---|---|
| Jen Presley | No comment |
| Lynda Moss | I feel very strongly about teaching the truth of History. Education, REAL education is powwer, and those who would dismantle the teaching of history want the power over those who ar not properly educated. |
| Miranda Jones | I refuse to lie to children, and I am not afraid to tell the children the truth. The ancestors require that much! |
| Phaedra Reid | It is an immoral action to pretend as if oppression and discrimination has never happened or isn't currently happening. Lying to students only further shows that systemic discrimination is alive and well. Students need to know the truth so they can take the truth and make change. |
| Todd Bowser | We were already blinding and devaluing our students and citizens with whitewashed history and social subjects. Capitalism already creates a massive imbalance in the availability of facts and truth. When oppressors get to write their own histories to the exclusion of all others, this act is further oppression in itself. That this would be reinforced through policy is racist violence. |
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