Signatures
This is the list of people who have signed the pledge or petition to date.
Carrie Hurst | Arcata, CA
I believe in teaching truth, even when it’s sad, ugly, and unjust. I believe that in doing so, we are giving ALL students the opportunity to develop empathy for others to do better for our communities and the world. When we teach our young people to reflect on where we’ve been we instill skills that allow them to think critically and with compassion throughout their lives. Imagine the possibilities when they become policy makers and leaders - humans who can listen to, disagree with, and COMPROMISE without stripping away each other’s dignity and HUMANITY. We OWE it to our children to set them on a path with tools to improve the lives of all.
Erin Pierson | Fort Collins, CO
Camey Ervin | Morganton, NC
I honestly believe the truth in any situation is the answer to true freedom and catapults the healing of our great nation!
Lora Winger | Parma, OH
As a teacher of law and social justice, I have an ethical obligation to teach my students the truth about historical injustice, systemic and institutional racism, and the treatment of individuals who struggle in society as a result of the misuse of power. I do my best to teach them the truth even when the students (and their parents) do not want to hear it. The same individuals who believe removing confederate statues is equal to erasing American history are the same individuals who don't believe that systemic and institutional racism exist. The lack of understanding of American history and government boggles the mind. We cannot heal what we do not acknowledge. Recognizing, understanding, and resolving to change the sins of the United States does not make us less American. Rather, we become more American as we truly embrace the democratic principles on which this country was founded.
Camey Ervin | Morganton, NC
I honestly believe the truth in any situation is the answer to true freedom and catapults the healing of our great nation!
Stephanie Churchill | Peoria, IL
When I was a student, my history classes were taught with a white bias. It wasn't until later that I learned more details about the atrocities against Native Americans and even African Americans. I believe that the truth should be taught!
Kathryn Bonzo , ID
we know that every voice is needed to create an accurate and compassionate story of our nation. Because it takes skill to cultivate conversation around tough material. In my career as a teacher, I think willful ignorance is a step backward for us, but ignited intelligence is how we move forward. When you hear a student say, "Ohhhhh!" to historical puzzle pieces that they have gathered themselves or heard and get the big idea, you know that education does our republic good. Remember, we want 'liberty and justice for ALL.Thank you,
Steven Booth | Peel, ON, CA
Bri McIntyre | Lees Summit, MO
Lara Johnson | Hampton, NH
Nathan Tornow | Chicago, IL
I have a responsibility to teach multiple perspectives of history even if it makes a person or nation look bad. Humans and history are complex and removing any flaws removes the truth.
Sherrie Collins | Corryton, TN
I believe that censorship destroys democracy.
Chris Viens | Marstons Mills, MA
Brandi Hilliard | Gig Harbor, WA
Dana Edwards | Springfield, IL
it's the right thing to do.
Joel Collins | Corryton, TN
I am a teacher of history & social studies and there are indisputable facts that are part of our history. It would be a disservice to our youth and taxpayers to not cover or discuss facts.
Connie Myers | Syracuse, NY
Stephanie Kotch-Jester | Newark, DE
As teacher educators, we have the responsibility to empower our future teachers to Teach Truth and to become change agents! It is our professional responsibility!
Lisa Glazer | Ballston Spa, NY
I believe that it is vital to teach our students to think critically about our complicated history and complicated present in all disciplines and all grade levels.
Mary Lacy | Atlanta, GA
I believe that history is " Truth" and the past will repeat if the truth is hidden. The lies of the oppressor will only maintain the status quo, institutional racism, and inhumane oppression. There is no reconciliation of race and a systematic plan to maintain economic disparities is not discussed to all generations.
Kristine Fredrick | Rochester, NY
We inhabit the ancestral home of the Haudenasaunee people along the banks of the Genesee River, Lake Ontario, and the Finger Lakes. We use their language and names for many natural phenomena but we do not know the meanings of the words.
Anne Gilmore | Harvard, IL
I will always teach the truth. It is damaging to do anything else.
Eric Sisofo | Newark, DE
Hiding the truth doesn’t help us learn from past wrongdoings.
Natalie Wolf | Kansas City, KS
Teaching students the truth about history and today's society is essential in working towards a more equitable future.
michele Oliver | Sanford, FL
I am a teacher. I teach the truth, good or bad. It is my moral and ethical obligation not to lie to my students. If we don't examine the mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them. Facts are not politics. Facts aren't different because of your political beliefs. Facts are facts and that's what I will teach.
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.