Peoria Standard

There were no new teachers in Metamora who signed the pledge on March 8, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on March 7, the day before. It now has one pledge from Metamora teacher.

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.

The Metamora teacher wrote "We must teach the truth about our nation's history if we hope to understand the present and change the future. Lack of knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of our past perpetuates misunderstanding and denial and defense of our present conditions and precludes taking the actions necessary to correct for the situation we have created. The job of every teacher of every subject at every grade is to teach the truth. History should be no different." when pledging to teach Critical Race Theory.

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

Rebecca Rhodes

We must teach the truth about our nation's history if we hope to understand the present and change the future. Lack of knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of our past perpetuates misunderstanding and denial and defense of our present conditions and precludes taking the actions necessary to correct for the situation we have created. The job of every teacher of every subject at every grade is to teach the truth. History should be no different.