The pledge was signed by no teachers on Oct. 21, the day before. It now has three pledges from Lowell 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 Lowell teachers included, "Students deserve to know the truth. The only way this country will end racism is by educating all of its people" and "We cannot erase history because it makes us feel uncomfortable".
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 |
|---|---|
| Caitlin Oliver | We cannot erase history because it makes us feel uncomfortable. |
| Patricia Pappathan | We need to be honest about the past and face injustices and inequality if we will ever have understanding and change. |
| Sarah Bustin | Students deserve to know the truth. The only way this country will end racism is by educating all of its people. |
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