The pledge was signed by no teachers on Jan. 24, the day before. It now has 41 pledges from Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque teachers included, "It is important for children to learn the truth about history. I am grateful that this legislation doesn't exist in my state (yet) and I want to make sure it stays that way. I stand with my fellow educators who are dedicated to the truth" and "I have experienced CRT, LatCrit, and ethnic studies provide students and faculty with a sense of agency and feelings of worth in White-dominated institutions. I have heard emotional testimonies that CRT has re-energized careers for physicians and provided analytical tools for teachers and public sector workers. CRT theory, pedagogy, vocabulary, and thought models remade my identity, my teaching, and activism. Moreover, CRT and LatCrit offered me and others academic communities that provided the support I/we needed to remain in academia as scholar-activists".
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 |
|---|---|
| Adaline Bouldin | Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. |
| Alice Trabaudo | No comment |
| Allison Brock | It's important to teach children the truth. We can only learn from our past if we have the whole picture. |
| Art Sandoval | The truth needs to be known. |
| Benjamin Imbus | Teachers should not be nationalist propaganda outlets. Instead, we should teach against white-supremacy. |
| Chris Bouajila | No comment |
| Cliff Hanna | The past can teach us about ourselves but only if we acknowledge all the evidence, regardless of our personal convictions. Teaching the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth lights our path to a brighter future. |
| Cody Sinclair | History is important, even when it's painful or inconvenient. |
| Dara Beckley | No comment |
| Ella-Kari Loftfield | History is not the past, it is the present." James Baldwin |
| Erick Hernandez | our students deserve to know the truth and they deserve an unsanitized version of history. |
| James Martel | No comment |
| Jason Stuart | Facts matter. |
| Judith Mardhall | Truth brings justice |
| Kavita Krishna | No comment |
| Keith Morris | Kids need to learn what the USA actually did, all the harm it's caused, and not the Carlson/Rufo/Confederate mythology |
| Kimber Scott | Changing history is a lie. Truth should win. |
| Kristine Mayle | No comment |
| Lauren Scott | I will teach the truth. |
| Margaret Montoya | I have experienced CRT, LatCrit, and ethnic studies provide students and faculty with a sense of agency and feelings of worth in White-dominated institutions. I have heard emotional testimonies that CRT has re-energized careers for physicians and provided analytical tools for teachers and public sector workers. CRT theory, pedagogy, vocabulary, and thought models remade my identity, my teaching, and activism. Moreover, CRT and LatCrit offered me and others academic communities that provided the support I/we needed to remain in academia as scholar-activists. |
| Margery Nichelason | There is such a thing as TRUTH that is unwavering, that cannot use bent and twisted into something else. Lying has become a mainstay in our culture today and must be stopped. I refuse to pretend that our history is full of butterflies and rainbows when it just isn't so. Re-forming history for politicals is a disservice to our country and to our young learners. At 66 years old I have experienced the Civil Right Movement in Chicago and am horrified with what is going on today. Racism is against the constitution and LYING is against what God tells us to do. Stop living in fantasy land and let's get back to truth and justice TODAY!!! |
| Maria Rogahn | No comment |
| Mary Lou Hall | I am tired of this racism in our country, and no one seems to be doing anything about it or care. I have lived on this earth for almost eighty five years and things are getting worse instead of better. Oncoming generations, will have to turn the tide that has been here for years. It is time for us to wake up and smell the coffee! |
| Michelle Herrera | Students need and want and deserve the truth. They are able to understand and critically think about difficult history. History should be messy and complex and multifaceted. Teaching American Exceptionalism is none of those things. |
| Nick Depascal | No comment |
| Nina Dorrance | No comment |
| Pili Burkett | No comment |
| Renae Smith | No comment |
| Ruza Posich | No comment |
| Sara Bautista | It is important for children to learn the truth about history. I am grateful that this legislation doesn't exist in my state (yet) and I want to make sure it stays that way. I stand with my fellow educators who are dedicated to the truth. |
| Shari Tarbet | It is imperative that we all know the kaleidoscope of history. |
| Sharon Ostrom | It is important that students know the truth about our history, every last bit of it! |
| Shawn Burich | Without truth, there is no future. |
| Shelby Clayburn | I believe in truth. |
| Silvina Farmin | I teach History not propaganda |
| Silvina Farmin | I'm committed to teach the real history of the world |
| Susan Rich | No comment |
| Tony Watkins | Without an analysis of how our society became so unequal children of all colors internalize harmful, unhealthy, and inaccurate assumptions about who they are and where they live. |
| Tracy Carroll | I believe the truth should never been hidden, and am completely against oppression of any kind of diversity. Buried truths lead to oppressed people, which can lead to a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, or even death. |
| Valerie Herrera | Because we need to come to a realization that our country is not the white washed version that we are taught in school. |
| Venessa Urioste | Students deserve to know the truth and think critically so that they can be the change agents and make America and our communities a better place where ALL our treated inclusively! |
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