North New Castle News

There were no new teachers in Newark who signed the pledge in week ending Jan. 22, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by five teachers the week before. It now has 10 pledges from Newark teachers by the end of the week ending Jan. 22.

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.

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
Stephanie Kotch-Jester	As teacher educators, we have the responsibility to empower our future teachers to Teach Truth and to become change agents! It is our professional responsibility!
Eric Sisofo	Hiding the truth doesn’t help us learn from past wrongdoings.
Elizabeth Soslau	Because the truth matters and it is time to tell the truth.
Elizabeth Farley-Ripple	I believe that we must confront the truths, good and bad, about our collective histories in order to grow as a country and communities.
Sade Montano	“no comment”
Randye Harrison-Dixon	Teaching the truth to my students about who they are and who I am as a Black Woman has become one of the most important things to me as an educator. I am the mother of Black Children, the Wife of a Black Man, the Daughter of a Black Retired Distinguished Principal and Black USAF Brigadier General, Descendent of Slaves, Educator of children, anti-racist, social activist, and abolitionist of all things false
Denise Murray	without the next generation having a complete picture of how came to be the way we are, we as a whole society will never move past or solve the problems we have because of racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc.
Heather Anderson	I believe my students deserve to know all of the truth of our history and I could never lie about it or cover things up. They will use this truth to make the world much better than it’s ever been.
Scott Parsons	I believe that it's important that my students know that we, their teachers, stand with them, and I believe it's essential that we give our students the knowledge and tools to work against systems of oppression in our country band around the world.
Diane Codding	“no comment”