No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has six pledges from Fontana teachers by the end of the week ending March 12.
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 new Fontana teachers included “students need to learn about our uncomfortable history, because accountability and atonement are important.” and “Systemic racism is real. The mythology of the founding of the United States fails to include the role of the enslaved people on whose backs the country was founded.”.
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. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.
Other states, such as Montana and Georgia, have denounced the teachings and are discussing a ban on critical race theory teachings.
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 |
|---|---|
| Mark Schulte | I have always striven to tell the whole truth of our country and the world. I am appalled at the many attempts by so many people in so many states to prevent us, including criminalizing teachers, from teaching our students the truth. I want to go on the record as supporting honest teaching to empower our students to be participants and leaders in a better future for our country and world. |
| Amanda Macias | representation, whole truth, and education should not be in the context of a dominant culture, binary system. We should teach diverse perspectives so that we do not repeat the past. |
| Matt Vaudrey | It costs me nothing to do so, but it moves me closer toward using my privilege to make noise and further from complacency. |
| Brandalyne Evans | “no comment” |
| Angela Wysocki | Systemic racism is real. The mythology of the founding of the United States fails to include the role of the enslaved people on whose backs the country was founded. |
| Matt Vaudrey | students need to learn about our uncomfortable history, because accountability and atonement are important. |
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