Signatures
This is the list of people who have signed the pledge or petition to date.
Bruce Robbins | Durham, NC
I believe in a classroom that is a culture of thinking. In such a classroom students are asked to confront the discipline in a problems based, inquiry format. This allows students to create evidence based conclusions. These bills will prevent students from creating evidence based conclusions.
Isaac Lake | Asheville, NC
Because it would be criminal to stand by to these unjust acts within our own governments.
Roxanne Pfenning
This is a ludicrous and unacceptable law and I am ashamed by the fact that it may be passed. Ignoring and covering the existence of something does not make it exist any less, it ONLY makes those ignoring and covering it more comfortable.
Ellen Wilson | Columbia, MO
My job is to teach the truth.
Jean Evans | Longmont, CO
I am extremely concerned that any subjects or materials are being banned. We should be teaching the truth which also includes the truth about the division of races. Biologically we are one human race and students need to know that.
Melissa Marini Švigelj | Santa Cruz, CA
Tina Starks | Rancho Cucamonga, CA
students deserve to know the truth about our nation's history and the harmful impact of structural oppression on the humanity of its citizens. Students deserve the opportunity to examine historical truths to avoid perpetuating the transgressions of the past and to envision the betterment of their future.
America Patton | Kansas City, KS
as our world becomes more diversified, I believe that it is more important to tell the story of all diverse cultures and nationalities. When history is taught more accurately, I believe that our world would be a more peaceful, safe, and united place to live. Ancient truths, and ancient histories are just as important as present day truth. All cultures stories and history deserve to be told accurately, and all diverse stories diverse to be included in diverse educational curriculums.
Joan Hurley | Southington, CT
…all of the above…
Cassie B | Mill Valley, CA
James Sattva | Mc Gaheysville, VA
my commitment to empower and embolden my Electrical Trade students requires that I provide accurate accounts and scientifically sound analysis. Empowering students, in addition to teaching valuable skills, means teaching them to: 1) question absolutely everything; 2) gather every possible scrap of evidence; 3) think dispassionately; 4) identify and embrace emotions; 5) practice empathy and compassion in judgement; 6) speak comprehensibly and write coherently; and, 7) be at home with doubt and discomfort. If I neglect the effort to model for my students any of these principles, I have failed them - no matter how good they get at wiring things.
Emilie Hansel | Harvey, IL
My students deserve truth...not textbook "truth"
Becky Brown GB
I want the Truth being taught! In an attempt to begin to address the injustices that are still happening.
Louis Bonsteel | Huntington Park, CA
I will teach the truth, I will teach the whole of history, not just parts. We have to know the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Tawnya Layne | Prineville, OR
A vocal minority in my small town is trying to stop the adoption of an elementary curriculum that includes Ruby Bridge's autobiography and writing by MLK Jr.
Lesley Mace | Durham, NC
The act of teaching truth does not divide us, it serves as a way for students to identify the inequities in our society that divide us so that we may build a stronger community and nation where we all thrive.
Camellia Termini | Belen, NM
when I was in the 7th grade twenty five years ago, our curriculum in Montgomery County Maryland required us to visit the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC and the Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore City for field trips. My classmates and I could handle the truth and our students deserve the opportunity to learn the extent of conquest, colonialism, and oppression in the United States and not sugarcoat or erase communities of the past.
Amy Zanghi | Portland, ME
It's time to tell the truth
Jason Biehl
I care about young people, critical thinking, antiracism and justice.
Sabrina Springer | Seattle, WA
Standing in solidarity for BIPoC communities and those traditionally oppressed.
Tyler Walker | Austin, TX
Students need to know the wonderful stories of the brave folks that fought against these systems of oppression and sparked hope and solidarity to the creation of a freer, kinder world.
candid fernandez | Aurora, CO
Daniel Hoppe | Stevens Point, WI
I believe it is never more important that we teach the truth about our history so that our students will understand the struggles and successes that our country has made.
Hannah McCulloch | White Salmon, WA
David Biegen | Miami, FL
A democracy built on a foundation of lies and evasions is a democracy at risk. Those people who do not want a democracy that includes everyone are the only ones who fear the truth.
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.