The pledge was signed by no teachers on Feb. 21, the day before. It now has 12 pledges from Morgantown 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 Morgantown teachers included, "I refuse to whitewash our history. I wasn't taught what *really* happened in our country... I discovered more and more on my own as an adult. I don't want this to happen to my kids or my students" and "I am signing my name to show support for all students that enter my classroom".
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 |
|---|---|
| Ben Canfield | I believe in teaching our children the truth about the prevalence and persistence of structural racism in our country so that they can observe, analyze, and react to the system of advantages and disadvantages that stems from this structural racism. |
| Betsy Osborne | Not only do our future teachers need to have the freedom to work with standards and curriculum that do not contribute to white supremacist ideas, but my own children deserve to hear the multiple perspectives which social studies offers. Never trust anyone who tells you there is only one truth- they most definitely are attempting to keep the wool over your eyes. |
| Carrie Beatty | White washing history is not the way to a better understanding of the past nor does it lead to enlightenment. |
| Cate Johnson | No comment |
| Chelsea Slade | No comment |
| Christina Fattore | I refuse to whitewash our history. I wasn't taught what *really* happened in our country... I discovered more and more on my own as an adult. I don't want this to happen to my kids or my students. |
| Courtney Shimek | If we erase our history we are bound to repeat it. |
| Kristin Moilanen | No comment |
| Megan Hut | teaching the truth about the history of this country is the only way for change in the future. |
| Sean Freeland | Teaching the truth is essential to liberate the lives of minoritized people, and it is especially important and rare in mathematics education. |
| Shalyn Baylor | I am signing my name to show support for all students that enter my classroom. |
| Tiffany Mitchell Patterson | The road to freedom hinges on the youth knowing the raw and rugged truth about systemic ills of this country. Through truth our young people can imagine and fight for a new world where we are ALL free. |
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