3 more Elk Grove teachers pledge to teach Critical Race Theory in week ending March 12 despite controversy

By South Sacramento Today

Mar 17, 2022

Critical Race Theory will be taught by three more teachers in Elk Grove, 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 Elk Grove teachers by the end of the week ending March 12.

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 new Elk Grove teachers included “As educators our job is to prepare students for their next steps in life which is usually a career after HS or going to College. Overall, being able to navigate this world while helping it change for the better. Without providing our students with proper information they will feel lost and uninformed in a world that is always advancing and where others actually care about different cultures and peoples. Choosing to remove history, not only states that a State is racist and anti-LGBTQIA+, but it just further supports how the system always has been instead of actually developing to the next level as a country, which is to tell the true history and to embrace all people so others can gain empathy and understanding. Not only would these laws tell BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students that you do not matter to us, we will also be setting our students up for failure if we continue to teach the white europeans centric voice that has always been taught in schools. Don’t erase the voices and lived experiences of others who are harmed and have been harmed the most in our country, it will only lead towards more students harming themselves and others.” and “The truth matters!”.

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 Elk Grove who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Tessa Green	I am the mother of black children who deserve representation and honesty in the classroom. As a white woman I wish I had not been in my 30s when I learned the truth about so many systems of oppression. As a teacher all of my students deserve to know the truth about history as well as feel our classroom is a safe and welcoming place for all!
Joanne Brown	I believe in telling the truth about our history and what is going on NOW!
Arianna Barzman-Grennan	It matters that we teach our students accurate information. Without the truth, we cannot hope to have a more informed, knowledgeable population of students and citizens.
Jordan Dietrich	“no comment”
Miranda Massa	The truth matters!
Bethany Moslen	As educators our job is to prepare students for their next steps in life which is usually a career after HS or going to College. Overall, being able to navigate this world while helping it change for the better. Without providing our students with proper information they will feel lost and uninformed in a world that is always advancing and where others actually care about different cultures and peoples. Choosing to remove history, not only states that a State is racist and anti-LGBTQIA+, but it just further supports how the system always has been instead of actually developing to the next level as a country, which is to tell the true history and to embrace all people so others can gain empathy and understanding. Not only would these laws tell BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students that you do not matter to us, we will also be setting our students up for failure if we continue to teach the white europeans centric voice that has always been taught in schools. Don’t erase the voices and lived experiences of others who are harmed and have been harmed the most in our country, it will only lead towards more students harming themselves and others.