No new teachers in Durango sign pledge on Dec. 17 to teach Critical Race Theory

By SW Colorado News

Dec 19, 2021

There were no new teachers in Durango who signed the pledge on Dec. 17, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 16, the day before. It now has four pledges from Durango 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 Durango teachers included, "I believe in truth and responsibility" and "I would rather be stripped of my license than deliver to my students deliberately deceptive or misrepresentations of current and past events and history regarding the founding of this country and its continued impacts. The monumental push to hide these truths is evidence of their very existence. We cannot move forward if we cannot critically examine what is behind us".

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 Durango who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Alicia McClung	It's the right thing to do.
Louvelle Zinser	I believe in truth and responsibility.
Sarah Sánchez Armstrong	I would rather be stripped of my license than deliver to my students deliberately deceptive or misrepresentations of current and past events and history regarding the founding of this country and its continued impacts. The monumental push to hide these truths is evidence of their very existence. We cannot move forward if we cannot critically examine what is behind us.
Steven Foster	No comment