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 Metuchen teachers included, "It is unbelievable to me that anyone who lives anywhere in the United States does not understand the harm that institutional racism does to all people" and "We can only learn if we teach the truth".
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 |
|---|---|
| Amy Fuentes | We can only learn if we teach the truth. |
| Linnea Weiland | It is unbelievable to me that anyone who lives anywhere in the United States does not understand the harm that institutional racism does to all people. |
Alerts Sign-up