The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 13, the day before. It now has three pledges from Missoula 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 Missoula teachers included, "It is important that our young people know the truth about slavery, racial discrimination and exploitation, and the courageous heroes who fought for ethical, social, and political inclusion" and "English and creative writing classes are about telling stories and exposing students to a chorus of diverse voices. How can I expect my students to create narratives or arguments with integrity and fair examination of all sources if we as teachers are forbidden from doing just that? The story of our nation needs to be told in its entirety. The ugly bits don’t just exist in the past and history will continue to repeat itself until we can consistently offer an educational experience that demands critical thinking and empathy. All voices deserve to be honored".
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 |
|---|---|
| Celia Winkler | It is important that our young people know the truth about slavery, racial discrimination and exploitation, and the courageous heroes who fought for ethical, social, and political inclusion. |
| Olivia Dejohn | history cannot only be told from one point of view. Hard history is still history and how we ensure we don’t repeat past mistakes and help people make sense of why things are the way they are. |
| Rebecca Carson | English and creative writing classes are about telling stories and exposing students to a chorus of diverse voices. How can I expect my students to create narratives or arguments with integrity and fair examination of all sources if we as teachers are forbidden from doing just that? The story of our nation needs to be told in its entirety. The ugly bits don’t just exist in the past and history will continue to repeat itself until we can consistently offer an educational experience that demands critical thinking and empathy. All voices deserve to be honored. |
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