No new teachers in Hickory sign pledge on April 20 to teach Critical Race Theory

By Hickory Sun

Apr 23, 2022

There were no new teachers in Hickory who signed the pledge on April 20, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on April 19, the day before. It now has two pledges from Hickory 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 Hickory teachers included, "Our state has just adopted new Social Studies standards and i am reading about backlash. The term Critical Race Theory is being used without any understanding that term is misleading and you can teach basic truths without it. If students and parents are upset about events in our past then I feel like I have done my job" and "students need to understand the problems of America’s past and present in order to form a better future, and it’s essential for teachers to guide their students through the struggles of coming to grips with reality".

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 Hickory who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Delene Huggins	Our state has just adopted new Social Studies standards and i am reading about backlash. The term Critical Race Theory is being used without any understanding that term is misleading and you can teach basic truths without it. If students and parents are upset about events in our past then I feel like I have done my job.
Josh Nixon	students need to understand the problems of America’s past and present in order to form a better future, and it’s essential for teachers to guide their students through the struggles of coming to grips with reality.