1 more Bellingham teacher pledges to teach Critical Race Theory in week ending Sept. 25 despite controversy

By NW Washington News

Sep 27, 2021

Critical Race Theory will be taught by one more teacher in Bellingham, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

No new teachers sign the pledge the week before. It now has 11 pledges from Bellingham teachers by the end of the week ending Sept. 25.

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.

The new Bellingham teacher wrote “I see no honest reason to lie to my students.” when pledging to teach Critical Race Theory.

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 Bellingham who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Nicole Seegers	“no comment”
Janet Higbee-Robinson	“no comment”
Bruce Mansfield	I am concerned about the efforts to sustain white supremacy through laws that restrict the teaching of US history.
Shannon Sandberg	I support everything Zinn Ed!
Mary Kazimer	“no comment”
Jon Durham	It is the clear duty and responsibity of all teachers to always tell the truth to their students. The full truth is the foundation of our students understanding of the world and their place in it.
Nini Hayes	“no comment”
Maren Anderson	Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it.
Maria Timmons Flores	As a society, we will never live up to the ideals of a democracy with equity and justice unless we teach the truth of our history, help students to wrestle with multiple perspectives, to think critically, understand and address systemic injustices, and act to the benefit of themselves and their communities.
Amy Caramella	“no comment”
John J. Ferreiro	I see no honest reason to lie to my students.