The pledge was signed by no teachers on Nov. 28, the day before. It now has 62 pledges from Oakland 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 Oakland teachers included, "There is a huge shift that needs to happen to tell the truth about the history of this country, founded on the genocide of indigenous people in order to steal their lands. As well, wealth was built by enslaving others, especially Africans, for the past 400 years. Capitalists used and continue to use racism as a reason to strip the land and other people of resources" and "Re-writing history to erase the truths of racism and oppression prevents us all from being able to make meaning of the world around us. It also does lasting harm to those people who experience racism daily, by denying their lived experience. Banning the teaching of historical truths is".
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 in Oakland who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory
| Teachers | Thoughts on Critical Race Theory |
|---|---|
| Andrew Burt | No comment |
| Ann Park | No comment |
| Annelise Meunier | Banning teachers from teaching their students about the complex and rich history that made their country is to destroy that same country by making students ignorant, single-minded and unable to make the right decisions for their own life, but also for their community. How do you expect one to understand their place in a society if they do not have the tools to understand it and its history? How do you expect one to make thoughtful decisions if their perspective is reduced to one story from one point of view? Let's help our students be successful by giving them all the tools they need to move forward on a clearly thought out path. |
| Ashley Busby | No comment |
| Audrey Arthur | No comment |
| Barbara Johnck | No comment |
| Barry Turner | No comment |
| Bonnie Lockhart | As a music teacher, I know the history of American music cannot be taught without examining the roots of our music in the African people who were kidnapped and brought here under slavery. This violent history is part of our music and part of who we are. To perpetuate ignorance about the sources of our music is to perpetuate that violence, to perpetuate cultural theft, and to create further barriers to the understanding required for healing and transformation. |
| Carrie Odgers Lax | No comment |
| Cecilia Terrazas | It is imperative that all of our students learn the history of our country, both our successes and failures, and addition to the history of oppression and racism that continues to plant this country. Anti-racist education is good for all Americans, and I am committed to continuing to teach students to be critical, resistance, I had to push for equity for the sake of all Americans |
| Chela Delgado | I will continue to teach the truth about the resilience of communities of color in the United States. |
| Chloe Erskine | No comment |
| Christine Hagerup | Education is a radical and transformative act. |
| Danielle Levin | No comment |
| Deanna Haurie | Our students deserve to learn about all facets of US history so that they can shape a country that is better than the one standing today. Educators play no role in uplifting or furthering the oppression, isolation, endangerment, and marginalization of communities. |
| Devin Hess | I will not accept a legislated narrative that denies our students the right to critically examine the past so that they can take charge of their future. |
| Diana Grimes | I |
| Elizabeth Humphries | No comment |
| Elizabeth Humphries | Re-writing history to erase the truths of racism and oppression prevents us all from being able to make meaning of the world around us. It also does lasting harm to those people who experience racism daily, by denying their lived experience. Banning the teaching of historical truths is |
| Emily Scroggs | It is incredibly important for students to learn more than just a white-washed, glorified account of history |
| Eric Guthertz | No comment |
| Fred Werner | The accelerating and coordinated efforts to demonize teachers, misrepresent anti-racist teaching, and stir up outrage against a "CRT" bogeyman is disturbing. Even more concerning is the success they are having nationwide in censoring teachers and banning the teaching of uncomfortable truths about America's past and present. Thank you for taking a stand for intellectual honesty, and for empowering our students to learn the full truth and work towards a brighter future! |
| Gargi Gangopadhyay | my students deserve to know the truth! |
| Green Clare | No comment |
| Jacqueline MacK | No comment |
| Jason Muniz | No comment |
| Jessica Jung | we must know the truths about where we have been, both as individuals and as a society, in order to create a better and just world for ourselves and others. |
| Jessica Rhode | it is important to teach the truth and create new structures that include and support all students. |
| Jill McLennan | I believe in teaching and opening dialogue bravely and honestly about history, current events, racism and racial struggles and successes and raising anti racist future generations. |
| Jody Silver | As a former teacher, I have seen the damage that can be caused when someone's voice has been left out of our history. Also, Howard Zinn was a former prof of mine and it's important to honor his legacy! |
| Joshua Diamant | No comment |
| Katherine Carter | No comment |
| Katrina Martin | What's the purpose of education if we don't teach the truth? |
| Kelly McBride | No comment |
| Kelly McBride | Kids deserve to know the truth about our history so they can make informed decisions and be critical thinkers. |
| Kyle Prince | No comment |
| Laura Galligan | I refuse to lie. I will always tell it like it is and I won't be hemmed in by any textbook. |
| Laurel Levitan | Even five year olds know the world isn’t fair or if someone is treated differently because of their skin color. And if I’m not honest with them or ignore them, then their understandings about the world will be based on the unsupported assumptions of a five-year old and THAT is how fear and hate form.I refuse to do my students the disservice of leaving their questions unanswered or at least unresponded (“I don’t know” is often my answer to science questions). I refuse to send the message that asking questions is not OKAY. I refuse to convey that is OKAY for people to be treated inequitably or for those in power to misuse it by exploiting those they claim to represent.In my classroom, every person matters simply because they are person. I am refuse to lie or avoid explaining why my students don’t see this applied outside the classroom as well. |
| Leah Graniela-Loving | Our youth have the right to know how the present was shaped by the past, and access to an education that tells them the truth of their ancestors and their power so they can use it to make the world a more just and equitable place! |
| Leah Ragen | No comment |
| Linda Warrick | Because I myself was not taught truth in History! |
| Lisa Hiltbrand | No comment |
| Lori Selke | I am in solidarity with k-12 teachers on this issue. My children are in middle school and they deserve the complex and critical truth. |
| Martha Hoppe | We need to pledge to teach the truth about the history of our country so that we can heal and move on to a more just and equitable society. |
| Michael Hopkins | Our society deserves to know the truth in order to create a more perfect union. |
| Michelle Capobres | We cannot sweep the uncomfortable truth about America under the rug. We cannot raise another generation of leaders that do not understand the complexities and atrocities of American history. |
| Misha Kiyomura | teaching true history is essential to dismantling white supremacy. |
| Paul Paradis | When we ignore the difficult truths of our past we are doomed to perpetuate the viciousness of white supremacy. |
| Romany Corella | I believe only w the truth can the young people make sound decisions about the future. |
| Samara R. | No comment |
| Samuel Eaton | No comment |
| Sarah Fuchs | No comment |
| Sarah Willner | There is a huge shift that needs to happen to tell the truth about the history of this country, founded on the genocide of indigenous people in order to steal their lands. As well, wealth was built by enslaving others, especially Africans, for the past 400 years. Capitalists used and continue to use racism as a reason to strip the land and other people of resources. |
| Shane Safir | No comment |
| Shannon Carey | No comment |
| Shikira Porter | Truth allows us to be and do better. |
| Sonia Thacher | Young people need and deserve to know real things about our country, in order to see themselves rightly as worthy and able help shape its future. |
| Sydney Glenn-Morgan | Telling the truth matters. |
| Tania Kappner | Students deserve honesty from adults. |
| Tanisha Garrett | No comment |
| Yvette Felarca | teachers have a right and an obligation to teach young people the truth about systematic and institutional racism in our nation's history and today. I stand in solidarity with educators across the country who are committed to defy racist local, state, or even national laws if necessary. More than anything, this is about young people's right to learn the truth about history so they can change the course of history and make this nation live up to its most egalitarian ideals and promises. |
| Zarina Ahmad | I am signing my name because I was a young adult before I learned the truth about the racist, oppressive and demoralizing principles that played a major role in the founding of the United States. I strongly believe that if we learn the truth at an early age about racist practices, we can begin to heal and break down the walls that separate us all as people. We can all learn from mistakes but first we must acknowledge that the treatment of African American people in this nation has been cruel. The black people of Tulsa, Rosewood and ancestors of enslaved people should be compensated for all that they and for the years of free labor that benefitted others. Exclusion from federal taxes, free college tuition and actual cash payments are long overdue. |
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