No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has three pledges from Port Charlotte teachers by the end of the week ending March 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.
Comments from new Port Charlotte teachers included “It is critical that teachers are supported in teaching the history of systemic racism in this country and empowering students to see themselves as a key component of achieving social justice for all.” and “The World's present moment, including America's, has been shaped by the various multi-faceted histories of an infinite number of present moments in which real people, messy in their entirety, were making decision for tangible, competing ends. To dispel the real and divergent multitude of in favor of one contrived, tidy, white idyllic version is not investigating Social Studies. That canned colonialist perspective belongs solely in English Language Arts as an exemplar to teach Author's Purpose and Bias.”.
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. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.
Other states, such as Montana and Georgia, have denounced the teachings and are discussing a ban on critical race theory teachings.
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 |
|---|---|
| Andrea Vazquez | “no comment” |
| Andrea Vazquez | The World's present moment, including America's, has been shaped by the various multi-faceted histories of an infinite number of present moments in which real people, messy in their entirety, were making decision for tangible, competing ends. To dispel the real and divergent multitude of in favor of one contrived, tidy, white idyllic version is not investigating Social Studies. That canned colonialist perspective belongs solely in English Language Arts as an exemplar to teach Author's Purpose and Bias. |
| Carrie Eicher | It is critical that teachers are supported in teaching the history of systemic racism in this country and empowering students to see themselves as a key component of achieving social justice for all. |
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