Two Greenfield teachers pledge to teach Critical Race Theory despite controversy by week ending Oct. 30

By Monterey Times

Nov 14, 2021

Critical Race Theory will be taught by two teachers in Greenfield who’ve signed an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project by the week ending Oct. 30.

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 Greenfield teachers included, "a democracy does not serve its young people, or its best interests by lying about its history, or by anything that mis represents who we are and how we came to this place. Lying seems to be the basic approach to virtually everything from the Republican Party these days, refusing to tell the truth about anything they simply don't like.... and it threatens our health as a nation" and "If we want to make progress in the future, we must have a reckoning with our past. We cannot have this reckoning if do not teach the truth about American history".

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 Greenfield who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Douglas Selwyn	a democracy does not serve its young people, or its best interests by lying about its history, or by anything that mis represents who we are and how we came to this place. Lying seems to be the basic approach to virtually everything from the Republican Party these days, refusing to tell the truth about anything they simply don't like.... and it threatens our health as a nation.
Matt Garcia	If we want to make progress in the future, we must have a reckoning with our past. We cannot have this reckoning if do not teach the truth about American history.