No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has three pledges from Redondo Beach teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 21.
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 |
|---|---|
| Bridget Mahoney | “no comment” |
| David Dixon | Our students—who will soon enough be politically involved adults—should be literate in the history of their nation. Our history is difficult and we must face and learn it in order to move forward in our relationships with each other as Americans. In the case of the influence of white supremacy on our nation’s history— which is all that “Critical Race Theory” amounts to — and the current efforts by Republican Party law makers, media pundits, and activists to censor the teaching of that history, it is important for educators to oppose and defy any effort to legislate the ignorance of our students. For this reason, I sign my name to this petition. |
| Violeta Duran | Students deserve the truth. |
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