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 Golden teachers included, "Providing young people with accurate information about this country’s past is the best way to help them form their own opinions about the present and future and realize their own agency in our society" and "It is important to teach history, the good and the bad, to understand how our past has created our present".
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 |
|---|---|
| Hayley Breden | Providing young people with accurate information about this country’s past is the best way to help them form their own opinions about the present and future and realize their own agency in our society. |
| Melinda Bowers | It is important to teach history, the good and the bad, to understand how our past has created our present. |
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