No new teachers in Newark sign pledge in week ending Aug. 21 to teach Critical Race Theory

By Newark Reporter

Aug 22, 2021

There were no new teachers in Newark who signed the pledge in week ending Aug. 21, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has six pledges from Newark teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 21.

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 in Newark who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Milagros Harris	I couldn't teach any other way.
Carla Ferreira	In solidarity with all teachers committed to teaching critical thinking and to making their classrooms anti-racist spaces & against all forms of white supremacist intimidation and oppression. Teachers should not fear for their safety or their jobs for teaching accurate histories. If our lawmakers don't want our students learning about racist history in the US, stop creating it!
Grace Howley	“no comment”
Leah Owens	“no comment”
Ericka Alfaro	Students deserve to see themselves in the history they learn as they continue rewrite it and add their own narratives.
Shea Richardson	Our scholars deserve to learn about the historical atrocities of the past, so that they may draw parallels to the injustices committed against members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community. As educators, we should subscribe to teaching the good, the bad, and the ugly as it pertains to American History. We must NOT remain silent! If we expose our scholars, then we will be empowering them to lift their voices, combat oppression, and be the future change agents and torchbearers!