Houston Republic

There were no new teachers in Houston who signed the pledge on Feb. 26, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on Feb. 25, the day before. It now has 36 pledges from Houston 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 Houston teachers included, "We are obligated to teach facts. It’s a fact that our nation was founded on the backs of enslaved people and at the expense of indigenous people. I don’t really know what else to say, it’s pretty simple" and "I am ashamed of my state’s attempts to undermine progress and the refusal to take ownership of our past. We will never have an equal society if we cover up the truth. I will continue to allow students to explore and learn about meaningful social justice topics and to be open about systemic injustices when we encounter them in our reading and lessons".

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
Andrea Jackson	Students are not fragile beings that can't handle the truth of our country's past and present. They deserve the truth.
Angie Alba	No comment
Bob McCord	Good versus evil is what it has become.
Catherine Miers	I love the Constitution and think the United States is the greatest country in the world. That does not mean that there aren't difficult aspects of the past that need to be acknowledged and studied. The only way to do better, is the know better. Ignoring difficult truths does not make them go away. As an educator it is my job to create informed citizens who can think critically. I refuse to teach a false narrative that glosses over the imperfections of our country. This would be a disservice to the past and the future of our nation.
Catherine Perez	We are obligated to teach facts. It’s a fact that our nation was founded on the backs of enslaved people and at the expense of indigenous people. I don’t really know what else to say, it’s pretty simple.
Charles Miles	When people with a very limited perception of the world gain power, you end up with a society and public that is uniformed and improperly educated which is directly related to the creation of these 12 bills across the country attempting once again to erase history and deny reality. The priority for people paid with our money should be to increase quality of life for ALL of their citizens yet they CHOOSE to conjure up problems (voter fraud, anti-trans bills, bs cancel culture problems etc..) that are only a "problem" because it deflects away from actual governance. Our students deserve so much better than this.
Chelsea Branch	No comment
Christine Williams	I think all history needs to be taught. The good, bad and the ugly.
Daniel Santos	My students deserve to know the truth and they deserve to be treated like young scholars.
Emily Wagner	Educators should be able to teach FACTS. No more sugar coating and whitewashing.
Erika Delarosa	We cannot address inequities and correct injustices if we do not name the white supremacist ideals and institutions that created them.
Gregg Carleton	Education matters and what is education without TRUTH? It is propaganda! Teaching the TRUTH and empowering our students is the best part of teaching.
Janet Cordova	Janet Cordova
Jonathan Bryant	The great Ida B. Wells said it best, "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.
Kris Lytle	I owe it to my diverse group of students to teach a true version of the history of music in America, at a grade-appropriate level.
Lara Knight	It is important to teach the truth. It is important to teach all children that they have value.
Lela Kent	I am a teacher and my students and community deserve to know the real history.
Lisa Stone	Students, and the rest of us, need to learn truth in order to be prepared to think and act safely and honorably.
Meghan Jump	Teaching colorblindness and whitewashed history is harmful and perpetuates racism and white supremacy. We cannot begin to address the harm that comes from racism without owning and acknowledging our true history. Our kids deserve the truth.
Melissa Pommier	I don't want our future children, both mine and others, to live in ignorance and fear.
Michelle Umanzor	I am worried that all the struggles that people of colored have been put through solely based on their color/Culture be forgotten. That history be forgotten, the government is becoming very open about how they are controlling us. Stay woke
Nelva Williamson	I teach in Texas and the bill about to become law harms my students. I will continue to teach truth to power because my students deserve to see themselves in history, to know that their ancestors were overcomers, and that they MATTER!To the governor....Too late! Last week I taught an intro lesson to US History to my World History students to prep them for next year using the 1619 Project. Today we looked at how enslaved Blacks, free Blacks and Native people were included and excluded from the founding documents as well as the arguments of the Constitutional Convention using primary source documents. These documents were written by the founders and help us to understand not just the world they were living in but also the consequences of their words and actions on current times. Maybe the governor needs to visit my class to get an understanding of what real teaching looks like. Just in case anyone asks....I proudly teach at YWCPA room 336...all day every day! It is a very sad day in Texas when accurate authentic history is considered a threat to fragile feelings brought on by guilt and ignorance. As educators, we need to stay vigilant and be truth tellers.
Nichelle Pinkney	To continue to teach selective history is inequitable not what is best for EVERY student.
Rachel Bohenick	I am ashamed of my state’s attempts to undermine progress and the refusal to take ownership of our past. We will never have an equal society if we cover up the truth. I will continue to allow students to explore and learn about meaningful social justice topics and to be open about systemic injustices when we encounter them in our reading and lessons.
Rachel Nash	The truth shouldn't be against the law.
Simone Roemhild	Truth and facts matter to achieve a fair, open and caring society in which every person can actualize their innate potential for the good of the universe.
Stephanie Caesar	Those who forget the last are doomed to repeat it.
Stephanie Willis	It is important for students to understand the history of the United States good or bad. Glossing over and ignoring history and the effects that it has had on multiple generations is irresponsible. One can’t change what is not acknowledged.
Stephen Wright	The study of history is complex, but also factual and truthful. Our students deserve to get truthful history and be able to critically think about their history and effectively participate in our democracy to make our nation a better place for ALL. Just as one can do so with our families, we can also love our country while still acknowledging its past sins that impact its future ones in order to make it better. Protest and change are patriotic, as is the goal of expanding equality and access to power for ALL Americans.
Tamara Bower	Teaching the truth about black history is crucial in reconciling US history among all citizens. Children can handle the truth and can learn from the past. It’s the only way forward.
Tanya Johnson	my district is buying in to the CRT and I disagree with them 100 percent.
Tim Martindell	I believe in academic freedom and that the truth of our collective history is key to continuing the democratic traditions of our country.
Torry Mercer	1863: Illegal to teach Black people to read.2022: Illegal to teach Black people History...or anyone else.
Traci Jensen	You can’t talk about history without the critical piece. Please do not legislate on something you know nothing about.
Yesenia Zavala	My students deserve the truth about their history, no matter how painful or unjust it may be.
Yvette Mendez	Children need to be taught truth not fairly tale history.