No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has two pledges from Bremerton teachers by the end of the week ending Oct. 23.
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.
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 |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Rumpke | I refuse to lie to my students. Teaching the truth about the history of the United States means acknowledging the good, the bad, and the ugly. My role is not to censor historically accurate information. My job is to provide students with the critical thinking skills necessary to make sense of our past and influence the future in positive ways. |
| Jenn Rumpke | Understanding our past - all of it - is the only way to secure the interest of our future. Presenting multiple perspectives is the key to developing critical thinking skills. |
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