The pledge was signed by no teachers on March 7, the day before. It now has seven 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, "I will not be bullied into pretending systemic/structural inequity doesn’t exist when teaching my students about our world" 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
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