No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has two pledges from Lawrence teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 28.
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.
The new Lawrence teacher wrote “Our students and staff deserve the opportunity and support to reckon with the true history of this country. True change cannot happen if we are unable to critically think about how this country’s history informs our biases, and more importantly, how it limits our access to equitable opportunities.” when pledging to teach Critical Race Theory.
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 |
|---|---|
| Jessi Dimmock | “no comment” |
| Mery Lizardo | Our students and staff deserve the opportunity and support to reckon with the true history of this country. True change cannot happen if we are unable to critically think about how this country’s history informs our biases, and more importantly, how it limits our access to equitable opportunities. |
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