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 Rockford teachers included, "The truth is that structural racism is embedded into the fabric of our society and we cannot progress as a nation by pretending that it doesn’t exist. Ignoring the issue will do nothing but aid in the continued marginalization of vulnerable populations" and "This matters".
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 |
|---|---|
| Ashley Ulferts | This matters. |
| Ben Riffle | No comment |
| Braxton O'Hearn | Students deserve to know real history and sociology of the united states, not a whitewashed and sterilized version of it. |
| Heather Phillips | The truth is that structural racism is embedded into the fabric of our society and we cannot progress as a nation by pretending that it doesn’t exist. Ignoring the issue will do nothing but aid in the continued marginalization of vulnerable populations. |
| Kathryn Storlien | Our ability to educate and view the worlds event from all perspectives is critical to us healing past trauma and atrocities. We can not hide from systems of racism that were built to marginalize and block non-white peoples from resources and their basic humanity. |
| Nicole Gasparini | Educators will not go backwards |
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