No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has three pledges from Columbia teachers by the end of the week ending Feb. 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 Columbia teachers included “This is a democracy where all people should Be invited to the table.. This is not a totalitarian government where voices should be suppressed” and “Racism is alive and well and thrives in America, the bastion of white 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 |
|---|---|
| Paula Feldman | Legislators should not require teachers to lie to their students or suppress the truth. |
| Gloria Boutte | I believe in the democratic principle of freedom of speech. History should not be whitewashed. |
| Burnett Gallman | Racism is alive and well and thrives in America, the bastion of white supremacy. |
| Gloria Boutte | This is a democracy where all people should Be invited to the table.. This is not a totalitarian government where voices should be suppressed |
| Gloria Boutte | This is a democracy where multiple voices need to be included. |
| Aishia Greene | “no comment” |
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