The pledge was signed by no teachers on Feb. 16, the day before. It now has three pledges from Belvidere 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 Belvidere teachers included, "Truth never damages a cause that is just. - - Mahatma Gandhi" and "I refuse to lie to my students".
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 |
|---|---|
| April Norman | We have taught lies for way to long! It's time to teach truth. |
| Patricia Helm | I refuse to lie to my students. |
| Teresa Kruger | Truth never damages a cause that is just. - - Mahatma Gandhi |
Alerts Sign-up