The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 2, the day before. It now has 14 pledges from Anchorage 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 Anchorage teachers included, "I want all people to know there is no history of American without the history of the Black and Brown people who built American" and "Academic freedom is under attack! We must take action".
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 |
|---|---|
| Chelsea Foster | Teaching historical truth is important to myself and my family. It is how we break and heal from generational curses. |
| Dr. Paula Williams | I want all people to know there is no history of American without the history of the Black and Brown people who built American. |
| Francisco Mercado | I believe in this theory and I am not going to all the racist right to stop our progress. |
| Heidi Northover | No comment |
| Justin Dickens | Our youth are the leadership we welcome into the next generations. Ots our responsibility to speak truth to power and do better for them. "Being not racist is not enough, we must be anti-racist" Angela DavisCritical race theory allows us to analyze racism dynamics and do something stop them. |
| Kat Arnold | No comment |
| Kathy McLinn | To teach the Truth" couldn't be a more pressing call to action within education and within our very society right now. Not only speaking the truth but teaching kids how to ask the right questions and to uncover their own truths- it's the only salvation for our democracy. Educators carry a huge responsibility to pass on "truth telling and truth seeking" as the path to personal and social liberation. |
| Lyn Franks | Academic freedom is under attack! We must take action. |
| Megan McBride | No comment |
| Michelle Wagner | Teaching the truth is important. We must truthfully educate our future generation. |
| Molly Towner | Students deserve the truth! |
| Rozlyn Grady-Wyche | Because my history matters |
| Rozlyn Grady-Wyche | teaching the truth matters, i am signing my name because children deserve to know their true history and what has happen and what has taken place in America. |
| Toni Biskup | I have been an educator for more than 1/2 of my life and it is critical for ALL children to know truth. It is not ok to continue to teach the altered form of history that leaves out truth including ugly truths. We can only learn and grow when we know what has happened. Our children deserve this and their well-being depends on it. |
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