No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has three pledges from Cedar Rapids teachers by the end of the week ending Jan. 15.
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 new Cedar Rapids teachers included “Our students deserve the truth!” and “I care about students - and they deserve to know the truth. They are able to handle uncomfortable realities and are engaged in these discussions - even if the governing bodies in this state are not.”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Michelle Frye | I care about students - and they deserve to know the truth. They are able to handle uncomfortable realities and are engaged in these discussions - even if the governing bodies in this state are not. |
| Julie Bradley | Our students deserve the truth! |
| Chris Rolwes | In order for our democratic republic to survive, we need an informed citizenry that understands the complexities that make up U.S. History. This will allow our students to become critical consumers of information and to be civically engaged. |
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