No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has five pledges from Jenkintown 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 Jenkintown teachers included “I won't tell my students that their lives and their experiences don't matter in this country. I won't let them walk through life thinking the United States has always been a beacon of freedom and always will be. I will teach students that white supremacy is real and always has been - and it can't be rooted out and destroyed unless we, as a nation, address and confront it. The kids are ready...why aren't the adults?” and “I am fed up with legislators without any knowledge or understanding of historical facts telling me what to do. They should stay out of the classroom.”.
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 |
|---|---|
| Emmanuel Carrera | “I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.”— Malcolm X |
| Rob Naborn | I am fed up with having to fight lies being fed by rightwing agitators. |
| Jackie Kazimir | “no comment” |
| Erin Timmer | I won't tell my students that their lives and their experiences don't matter in this country. I won't let them walk through life thinking the United States has always been a beacon of freedom and always will be. I will teach students that white supremacy is real and always has been - and it can't be rooted out and destroyed unless we, as a nation, address and confront it. The kids are ready...why aren't the adults? |
| Rob Naborn | I am fed up with legislators without any knowledge or understanding of historical facts telling me what to do. They should stay out of the classroom. |
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