There were no new teachers in Boise who signed the pledge on Jan. 6, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.
The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 5, the day before. It now has 11 pledges from Boise 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 Boise teachers included, “The truth matters – and it’s the only way forward” and “If it isn’t messy, it isn’t history”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Dolly Higgins | The truth matters – and it’s the only way forward. |
| Edwin Keener | We must know truth as it happened. Truth does not diminish white people. |
| Jenn Siegel | No comment |
| Joanne Klein | If it isn’t messy, it isn’t history. |
| Johnson Johnson | CRT…1. Charges an entire demographic with a collective crime.2. Uses that charge as grounds for framing individuals within the demographic as perpetrators of that crime.3. Seeks to strip condemned individuals of rights, dignity, and equal protection based on that charge. |
| Julie Gill | I object to Idaho and other states trying to censor teachers. It’s unconstitutional. |
| Kelly Nelsen | My students deserve the truth. |
| Michael Kreiter | This one is for you, IFF. |
| Morgan Baker | I will not be bullied into pretending systemic/structural inequity doesn’t exist when teaching my students about our world. |
| Sarah Duvall | No comment |
| Susan Whipple | The only way to make the country a better place is to teach the truth. We have to make students critically think and make decisions for themselves once they have the facts.In memory of George Floyd and Richard Greene and all the others who have perished at the hands of lynch mobs. |
