Signatures
This is the list of people who have signed the pledge or petition to date.
Heather Sussel | Winter Park, FL
Samantha Trask | Portland, OR
Alison Waterman | Orinda, CA
I am signing this petition because I believe it's important for my students to learn about the world in which they live - from the ancient past to the present day - and engage in discussions of challenging issues with each other in a safe space. In the wake of George Floyd's murder and local BLM demonstrations, recent graduates of our school district complained at school board meetings that they were not prepared for the complexities of the "real world" when they left the bubble of our homogeneous community. I am determined to provide my students with the preparation they need to better understand and transform the world around them as citizens of their community, country, and world.
Marisa Lawrence | San Francisco, CA
Sarah Hechler | Ann Arbor, MI
April Valentine | Lakebay, WA
I tell my children to tell the truth always. As adults we should lead by doing, we don't want our children to make the same mistakes that we have now and in the past. I want my children to be good leaders and great parents, and to treat their fellow human beings with kindness and compassion.
Chloe Root | Ann Arbor, MI
I wish I had learned more of the truth of history earlier (and I had *great* history teachers who did the best they knew how!), and my students deserve to learn it first so they don’t need to unlearn lies in order to fight injustice.
Karen Franklin | San Francisco, CA
The fear of history and the personalization of the past cannot be tolerated, promoted, or taught in America's schools.
Amber Cogswell | New York, NY
My students have a right to better understand the problems in our society, and we all have a responsibility to develop collective solutions to those problems.
Deidre Savino | San Jose, CA
John Cotman | Washington, DC
I am signing in solidarity with my K-12 colleagues. Attacks on freedom of thought must not be taken lightly. All educators should have the same freedom that I enjoy to engage students to read original works and think for themselves.
Sara Clarke | Redmond, WA
Colleen Carpenter | Seattle, WA
it's important for students to understand the reality of our country's history so that we can dismantle racist and oppressive systems
diane back | Westland, MI
We owe it to our young people to invite them into and provide supportive opportunities to speak from their experiences and understand the context that today's injustices are related to historical injustices. This is not about being unpatriotic, but rather shining a light on who we have been and are so that we can be better moving forward.
Sarah Blattner | Beaverton, OR
Our students deserve and need to know the history that came before them, so that they can repair and make the world a better place. We know that we must learn from history so that it doesn't repeat itself. In teaching the truth, students will learn through an inquiry lens, evaluating primary source documents and systems in place that prevent us from "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This is the work.
Laurie Sales | Groton, MA
Nicole Kovac | Toronto, ON, CA
Ruth Williams | Vergennes, VT
Brooke Salgado | San Dimas, CA
We need to better educate our children about our History not re-write it to the wrong narrative
Austin Clarke | Wilkes Barre, PA
Dawn Farek | La Porte, TX
Stop dictating, let us teachers teach history as it was , from our books.
Michael Elliott | Evanston, IL
Lori Sandler | Jackson Heights, NY
I am committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think. I want them to be able to learn the hard truths about this country, analyze what has happened, and develop the skills to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Stephanie Mesenbrink
Sarah Thomas | Falls Church, VA
I refuse to lie to my kids. They deserve to know the truth, and I know they can handle it. The discussions I’ve had with them over segregation, racism, discrimination and other tough topics have always been so thoughtful and inspiring. I know these lessons will help the future generation be better then we are today.
Selected Pledges
Click on pledge below to read many more.
As an educator who is serious about teaching the truth I will not be bullied into silence. I will do my part in the fight for equity and equality by making sure my students are most equipped to fight this ugliness in the real world.
Yes, the truth of American history needs to be taught, but also its impact on the rest of the world, such as its role in WWII. I just finished teaching a college-level course on the Holocaust, and could not believe how little the students knew about the rest of the world’s participation in the war! They seemed to believe that WWII was ended by the US alone!
“When you begin to do things that raise the achievement of the poorest and disenfranchised students, you may not always get applause. You need to be ready for that.” Dr. Asa Hilliard
“Resistance is a powerful motivator precisely because it enables us to fulfill our longing to achieve our goals while letting us boldly recognize and name the obstacles to those achievements.”
Dr. Derrick Bell
Our young people deserve the truth and it is our kuleana (responsibility) to give space and opportunity for the truth and the difficult conversations.
If we don’t teach it all, we teach nothing…
Social justice is a major theme of my Humanities 7 course, and my school uses Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s HILL framework (development of identity, skills, knowledge, Criticality) to frame our entire curriculum. Student agency through research work and essay writing, and action-oriented civic engagement work, define what we “cover” in my course.