No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has five pledges from Dayton teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 07.
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Brianne Green | “no comment” |
| Darren Smith | Students should have a factual understanding of the actual history of the United States and how it impacts the world the students live in today. |
| Tiffany Minton | Who tells history? The victors. But their story isn't the ONLY story. It is imperative to teach historical experiences from multiple perspectives. Our country's history from slavery to lingering racism still impacts our society today. Validating the experiences of People of Color is not meant to vilify the white majority. It acknowledges the experiences of our fellow Americans. |
| Melanie Thiesse | “no comment” |
| Larry Crowe | This Missouri bill represents the kind of closed mindedness that will mark the death of public schools, as such. |
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