The pledge was signed by no teachers on March 11, the day before. It now has seven pledges from Fairfax teachers.
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 Fairfax teachers included, "I pledge to teach the truth, because I will not minimize or make my student feel invisible. I will not participate in the whitewashing of our National history to promote the inequitable and unjust status quo. I will teach and affirm my students' identities, and protect and celebrate their voice. History should be the truth, not a work of fiction" and "It has taken me years to unlearn the colonizers' version of history I was taught. I work to help my own kids and the kids I work with to understand the racism on which the country was founded from a young age. Equipped with this knowledge, they are motivated and prepared to work for change".
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 |
|---|---|
| Abigail Quinn | The only way we can change the future for the better is by having honest conversations about the past. |
| Brooke Bertholet | It is my professional obligation as an educator that I deliver to my students the truth regarding many historical issues that won't leave them unable to commit to their obligations as citizens in a truly democratic society. |
| Jennifer Monsalve | No comment |
| Kathryn Smerke | It has taken me years to unlearn the colonizers' version of history I was taught. I work to help my own kids and the kids I work with to understand the racism on which the country was founded from a young age. Equipped with this knowledge, they are motivated and prepared to work for change. |
| Meagan Major | We are not teaching revisionist history- for the first time, many of our students are learning a broader range of perspectives than just the white men who wrote the history books. |
| Rebecca Moericke | I pledge to teach the truth, because I will not minimize or make my student feel invisible. I will not participate in the whitewashing of our National history to promote the inequitable and unjust status quo. I will teach and affirm my students' identities, and protect and celebrate their voice. History should be the truth, not a work of fiction. |
| Renee Gokey | Teaching the truth liberates us all by understanding and knowing who we are and where we come from. |
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