No new teachers in Richmond sign pledge in week ending March 19 to teach Critical Race Theory

By Richmond Leader

Mar 24, 2022

There were no new teachers in Richmond who signed the pledge in week ending March 19, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by three teachers the week before. It now has 12 pledges from Richmond teachers by the end of the week ending March 19.

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. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have passed legislation banning discussions about the US being inherently racist.

Other states, such as Montana and Georgia, have denounced the teachings and are discussing a ban on critical race theory teachings.

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 in Richmond who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Kathryn Haynes	“no comment”
Sarah Jane Brubaker	Students need to know an accurate history of our country in order to participate fully in creating a more just society.
Fay Chelmow	The truth will set us free
Pam Smith	Truth-telling is the only path to transformation.
Pam Smith	We can only progress when we face the past with honesty and transform it.
Sarah Crenshaw	“no comment”
Brenna Barringer	“no comment”
Laura Wilkinson	I believe that if we continue to whitewash the events of the past, we are doomed to repeat them. Haven't we seen the damage of not learning from our past already?
Katja Lipka	Because we must be clear about where we come from even if it is hard.
Andrew Maryniuk	Our history can't be rewritten, but we will repeat and relive it if we try to ignore it. Truth and reconciliation over toothless, poisonous fictions.
Sally Schuler	Teaching honest history is the key to a free society.
Leslie Saul	“no comment”