Kathleen Anderson

Students have a right to learn history with all its warts.and glories. That means confronting some ugly things this nation has done, but it also means celebrating the many ways we have worked to ameliorate racism, bigotry against religious or ethnic groups, hatred targeting people whose sexuality differs from their own. Recognizing tht certain groups have faced injustice is the only way we as a nation can honor ALL of our citizens. Critical race theory means different things to different groups, but I am filled with pride when I think of the work my fifth graders did researching civil rights issues. Far from feeling shame or guilt, my students felt.that they could and would be allies for underdogs in society. They learned about some horrible injustices, but they also learned about true American heroes who fought for us all to.love this land, and care for each other.