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 Kansas City teachers included, "all students should learn the truth. History, even hard history, needs to be taught to all" and "I believe in teaching the truth. I believe that you can love your country and also reckon with its history; the good and the bad. I believe that students deserve to be able to know about the history and growth of their country. They deserve to imagine an even better future than the one we've always imagined for the next generation. Anything less than that is a disservice to the country".
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 |
|---|---|
| Adriana Paez | We need to start teaching the whole truth about our country’s history and the systemic inequities that persist. |
| Angela Lea | all students should learn the truth. History, even hard history, needs to be taught to all. |
| Chelsea Dahlstrom | America can only heal our future when we face our past. |
| Christina Dismang | To change the world, we have to have these difficult discussions and conversations in our classrooms. I will not dilute my curriculum on the whims of some representatives that have never taught in their life. American Exceptionalism has no place in the classroom. |
| Crystal Yakel-Kuntz | In order to live in peace and joy, we must teach historical truth that moves us toward justice and equity. |
| Diane Bosilevac | No comment |
| Dustin Wiley | There is a NWO coming |
| Jaime Ursic | I believe in multiple perspectives being shared and taught |
| Janet Gordanza | The truth needs to be taught. We need to fight racism with racism. It’s the vaccine all kids should must be required to take. We are the woke supremacy! |
| Katie Jones | No comment |
| Kourtney Vincent-Woodbury | No comment |
| Lauren Robinette | No comment |
| Lisa Gann | No comment |
| Lyndsey Stailey | No comment |
| Mallory Hutchings-Tryon | No comment |
| Matthew Peterson | My students deserve to see themselves and their identities in the lessons being taught in my classroom and every classroom. Teaching about oppression and those who have worked to change oppressive structures empowers my students to think critically about what they want society to be and how their actions matter. In my classroom we will always seek to include all voices; especially those that have been historically marginalized and ignored. |
| Niki Scott | As a teacher, I will continue to teach history based in fact. Racism is a part of American History, as is slavery. To whitewash our history is to fail my students and I will do everything in my power to teach truth. |
| Raymond Taddeo | I believe in teaching the truth. I believe that you can love your country and also reckon with its history; the good and the bad. I believe that students deserve to be able to know about the history and growth of their country. They deserve to imagine an even better future than the one we've always imagined for the next generation. Anything less than that is a disservice to the country. |
| Raymond Taddeo | I pledge to teach the truth. A pledge to teach a non-eurocentric viewpoint of history. |
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