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 Syracuse teachers included, "The only way to make change is to stop the whitewashing. We need to teach the truth to learn from our mistakes" and "Suppressing the truth about history is a form of violence -- typically, against non-white people, women, poor and working people, non-heterosexual, non-cisgender people and more. Symbolic violence that often re/turns to physical violence and a reinforcement of multiple forms of Supremacy".
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 |
|---|---|
| Carol Weatherby | We can--no, we MUST-- do better! |
| Cecilia Green | Suppressing the truth about history is a form of violence -- typically, against non-white people, women, poor and working people, non-heterosexual, non-cisgender people and more. Symbolic violence that often re/turns to physical violence and a reinforcement of multiple forms of Supremacy. |
| Connie Myers | No comment |
| Gemma Cooper-Novack | I will guide my students to teach towards greater justice by engaging with the truth in its multiple and essential dimensions. |
| Jessica Cuello | No comment |
| Maureen Curtin | No comment |
| Noelle Files | I won't be complicit |
| Patricia Mullaney | I believe that our students have the capability of handling hard history. They deserve to hear about the struggles as well as the triumphs. |
| Stephanie Leaf | The only way to make change is to stop the whitewashing. We need to teach the truth to learn from our mistakes. |
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