The pledge was signed by no teachers on March 11, the day before. It now has two pledges from Owatonna 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 Owatonna teachers included, "The education system in this country needs to illuminate our past and present, not obscure it" and "I believe teaching students about the problematic histories of our past helps us to not repeat our previous mistakes, gives us a strong we understanding of where we are now, and ensures that we provide the resources and thinking skills for a better future for our students and world".
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 |
|---|---|
| Ben Beaupre | I believe teaching students about the problematic histories of our past helps us to not repeat our previous mistakes, gives us a strong we understanding of where we are now, and ensures that we provide the resources and thinking skills for a better future for our students and world. |
| Oana Broussard | The education system in this country needs to illuminate our past and present, not obscure it. |
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