The pledge was signed by no teachers on March 6, the day before. It now has 54 pledges from Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles teachers included, "I do believe that the truth sets us free to grow versus remaining in a fixed mindset. Growing will lend to the much-needed healing for all Americans" and "Because as a white male, I refuse to be complicit".
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 Los Angeles who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory
| Teachers | Thoughts on Critical Race Theory |
|---|---|
| Adrian Bacong | Acknowledging our stories and the implications of past injustices is important for all of us, at every educational level. |
| Allison Levine | Our students need to know the truth about the good, the bad, and the ugly of our country. If they don't know about it, how will they learn to make this country a better place? |
| Amy Owen | No comment |
| Andrea Gambino | No comment |
| Anna Little | I do believe that the truth sets us free to grow versus remaining in a fixed mindset. Growing will lend to the much-needed healing for all Americans. |
| Anna-Michelle McSorley | My son needs the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. |
| Arlene Inouye | All educators must teach truth and be the bearers of teaching historical truth to the next generation. |
| Bonnie O'Hara | No comment |
| Brenda Hunter | It is imperative that as a responsible collective, we not veil the truth of our history in one perspective. Our students and future students must be allowed to know and understand the roots of our democracy and its impact on the history of its peoples. |
| Carla Anne Thomas | Everyones history matters |
| Carlyn Oropez | I believe we need to empower kids and give them the tools to research topics for themselves, use critical thinking skills, see themselves and their heritage's role in our history no matter what their background is, and learn about history- the good, bad and ugly in order to make the best decisions for the future. |
| Carol Valentine | If we don’t have truth as a guiding precept for studying our history, then we do not have a functional democracy. |
| Courtney Thakur | No comment |
| Danielle Howard | Truth matters! |
| David Chrzanowski | No comment |
| Deb Christenson | No comment |
| Delisa Alejandre | No comment |
| Dr. Shadi Seyedyousef | our children deserve to know their histories |
| Ebony Batiste | I don't want the truth to disappear. |
| Eva Schlomann | No comment |
| Falica McClain | Because the truth MUST be revealed! How will children K-12 learn about systemic and institutionalized racism if they cannot recognize it's passive and subtle forms? |
| Garrett Shorr | No comment |
| Gina Morgan | No comment |
| Guadalupe Cardona | the truth is the foundation to building a strong movement for change based in love and transformation. |
| Heather Knight | “Silence ensures that history repeats itself.” —Erin Gruwell |
| Heidi West | Truth matters. If we want the next generations to survive and thrive, we have a responsibility to empower them with knowledge about how we got to where we are today through an accurate inclusive accounting of history and the current state of the world. |
| Janyce Collins | it is the right thing to do! We must end racism and that begins with the truth. |
| Jessica Rodarte | The truth is the only way. |
| Joanne Yi | No comment |
| Joel Parham | Truth in education is vital to the future of our society. |
| Juandiego Montemayor | Truth matters |
| Kathryne Edwards | No comment |
| King Chan | We need to stand strong for education reasons and our family values of everyone getting a knowledgeable worldly education. |
| Kira Caluza | I am signing my name because I believe when we teach history we must include the stories and voices of all people. |
| Koreen Cea | The truth told developmentally appropriate sets us all free |
| Kourtne Ballentine | Honesty is the only way out of our problems. |
| Manuel Gochez | It is important for students to not get a whitewashed view of history. Teaching the truth is essential for us to create a better tomorrow. |
| Marcy Newman | No comment |
| Marina Reis | No comment |
| Mark Roeder | I want to support students and not suppress their authentic voices. |
| Michele Levin | No comment |
| Michele Levin | Students deserve to know the history of this country. Hiding the truth is the game plan of fascists. My students have the right to make informed decisions about their futures and they can't do that without curriculum that includes primary sources, first person narratives, documents, the truth. |
| Morris White | No comment |
| Nikea Carwell | No comment |
| Norma Bowles | We have to make sure our youth learn the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. |
| Paula Henson | I believe in teaching the truth! |
| Rachel Kulik | No comment |
| Raquel Williams | We’re not even asking for Truth and Reconciliation Committees to be mandated, which would be powerful, we just want to ability to teach factual and documented history to our students. Stifling the truth is dangerous for our future. |
| Renee Tajima-Peña | No comment |
| Rigoberto Lemus | My identity markers: queer; Latinx; non-native English speaker; first generation American; educator all inform my teaching. I draw on these identity markers and lived experience to humanize myself to my students and show them how these things influence what I think and how I think about our American history. Above all, our students deserve to know the truth! The truth will help us heal! |
| Scott Lundgren | Because as a white male, I refuse to be complicit |
| Sheba Lo | No comment |
| Stacey Joy | In order for students to form their own opinions and stand in their own truth, they need to learn ALL of history, not just the history that makes one group of people comfortable. |
| Tracy King | Children need to learn complete stories in order to grow up to become responsible. proactive citizens. |
Alerts Sign-up