The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 22, the day before. It now has two pledges from Granville 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 Granville teachers included, "I believe understanding and empathy for experiences other than our own creates opportunities for change that benefit everyone" and "Students need to know historical truths, no matter how uncomfortable or ugly they are, and any attempts by state or national legislators to stop such efforts must be fought against and resisted".
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 |
|---|---|
| Chris Crews | Students need to know historical truths, no matter how uncomfortable or ugly they are, and any attempts by state or national legislators to stop such efforts must be fought against and resisted. |
| Shannon Krueger | I believe understanding and empathy for experiences other than our own creates opportunities for change that benefit everyone. |
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