The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 28, the day before. It now has 21 pledges from Lansing 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 Lansing teachers included, "It’s simply the right thing to do. History is learned because it helps us know what happened and why it happened. All information and events needs to be taught" and "The legislators creating these bills are spinning a narrative that is simply incorrect. Teaching about oppression throughout U.S. history isn't divisive. It helps students understand how the past influences the present so that we can build a more perfect union together".
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 |
|---|---|
| Amber Butler | Truth matters. |
| Andrew Tisdale | No comment |
| Brittany Szombati | The truth matters! |
| Chloe Hutcherson | I care about the real American history |
| Dan Kemsley | Truth must prevail. |
| Erin Bronstein | No comment |
| Heather Wingett | No comment |
| Jeff Gower | The truth matters |
| Jill Horn | No comment |
| Katherine Franklin | White-washing history for the comfort of the privileged perpetuates racist systems and institutions. |
| Kim Praser | I teach the truth in order to coach students to be critical thinkers. |
| Kimberlyn Fauson | The legislators creating these bills are spinning a narrative that is simply incorrect. Teaching about oppression throughout U.S. history isn't divisive. It helps students understand how the past influences the present so that we can build a more perfect union together. |
| Megan Dewall | No comment |
| Natalie Queen | Students deserve to know the truth |
| Renee Fields | The truth matters. |
| Rosaline Kuiper-Price | History should be taught from as many vantage points as possible. We need to be culturally responsive in educating our children. |
| Stephanie Brokstad-Franks | No comment |
| Thomas Delong | No comment |
| Tiernan O’rourke | My students are smart. They can learn that history is full of struggles. They need to learn that history is full of struggles, so the future doesn’t have so many. |
| Todd Simon | These laws are detrimental to democracy and free speech. |
| Travis Neller | It’s simply the right thing to do. History is learned because it helps us know what happened and why it happened. All information and events needs to be taught. |
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