Number of teachers pledging to teach Critical Race Theory in Portsmouth stagnates at four

By Rockingham Times

Oct 21, 2021

There were no new teachers in Portsmouth who signed the pledge on Oct. 19, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on Oct. 18, the day before. It now has four pledges from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth teachers included, "Teaching and learning about systemic racism and sexism, and (more importantly) regenerative and healing alternatives have been my focus since 1989 when I graduated from high school" and "Our failure to reckon with the injustices of our past and our tendency to teach racism like it's a thing of the past, or not teach it at all, is what has kept racism alive and thriving in our society today and has kept so many well-meaning, compassionate, intelligent people ignorant of the minority experience and ignorant of how propaganda is deeply rooted into our political and social systems and takes different forms and shapes our thinking; education is one of our best tools against hatred and the different damaging ways in which hatred manifests".

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 Portsmouth who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Abby Hood	No comment
Mary Vogt	Sick of the government punishing people for telling the truth.
Mika Court	Teaching and learning about systemic racism and sexism, and (more importantly) regenerative and healing alternatives have been my focus since 1989 when I graduated from high school
Yussra Ebrahim	Our failure to reckon with the injustices of our past and our tendency to teach racism like it's a thing of the past, or not teach it at all, is what has kept racism alive and thriving in our society today and has kept so many well-meaning, compassionate, intelligent people ignorant of the minority experience and ignorant of how propaganda is deeply rooted into our political and social systems and takes different forms and shapes our thinking; education is one of our best tools against hatred and the different damaging ways in which hatred manifests.