No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has one pledge from Scotts Valley teachers by the end of the week ending Feb. 12.
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 Scotts Valley teacher wrote “I teach 4th grade and this is a critical age to speak the truth - even if it means keeping it simple. I believe that laying a foundation of critical thinking is key to teaching history at the higher educational level.” 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 |
|---|---|
| Suzanne Stone | I teach 4th grade and this is a critical age to speak the truth - even if it means keeping it simple. I believe that laying a foundation of critical thinking is key to teaching history at the higher educational level. |
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