No new teachers in Fresno sign pledge on Dec. 23 to teach Critical Race Theory

By Fresno Leader

Dec 25, 2021

There were no new teachers in Fresno who signed the pledge on Dec. 23, according to an online pledge from the Zinn Education Project.

The pledge was signed by no teachers on Dec. 22, the day before. It now has seven pledges from Fresno teachers.

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.

Comments from Fresno teachers included, "White nationalist and white settler colonial mythology cannot stand unchecked. All human beings have a responsibility to change things, and teachers have even more of a responsibility" and "without teaching brutally and unapologetic honest history, and the legacy that it has produced, we can not complete our national reconstruction, that was aborted in 1877 with the corrupt presidential election bargain".

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 Fresno who’ve pledged to teach Critical Race Theory

Teachers	Thoughts on Critical Race Theory
Alexandros Acedo	without teaching brutally and unapologetic honest history, and the legacy that it has produced, we can not complete our national reconstruction, that was aborted in 1877 with the corrupt presidential election bargain.
Anoush Ekparian-Hadden	No comment
Denese Wolff-Hilliard	We owe are children the truth.
Meghan Schimmel	History taught from all perspectives matters.
Miroku Nemeth	White nationalist and white settler colonial mythology cannot stand unchecked. All human beings have a responsibility to change things, and teachers have even more of a responsibility.
Paulette Scott-Bradford	History is history!!! Tell the truth!!!
Sharon Merritt	No comment