2 more Santa Monica teachers sign Critical Race Theory pledge in week ending Aug. 28

By West LA Times

Aug 31, 2021

Critical Race Theory will be taught by two more teachers in Santa Monica, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has five pledges from Santa Monica teachers by the end of the week ending Aug. 28.

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 Santa Monica teachers included “in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."Students need to learn hard truths about history and current events so we do not keep repeating the same injustices. Our children need to be anti-racist allies and agents of change.” and “I am determined to teach truth to power and make sure my students will find themselves in my courses.”.

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 Santa Monica who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Shelly Ehrke	I pledge to teach the truth.
Glenn Sato	“no comment”
Shelly Ehrke	“no comment”
Catherine Ramos	in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."Students need to learn hard truths about history and current events so we do not keep repeating the same injustices. Our children need to be anti-racist allies and agents of change.
Gail Livings	I am determined to teach truth to power and make sure my students will find themselves in my courses.