California teachers are being asked to immediately edit or remove references to labor leader and alleged child rapist Cesar Chavez – who for years has been presented as an example of “honesty, courage, and determination” since kindergarten.
The California Department of Education is revising its social studies curriculum and an 800-page history to eliminate references to Chavez, who was accused of raping and molesting two girls since she was 12 and beating her longtime friend, Dolores Huerta, according to Calmatters.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is also reviewing “curriculum and resources” about Chavez because of the allegations.
“We are all very concerned about the allegations that have surfaced,” Acting Superintendent Andrés E. Chait told reporters Thursday. “We are evaluating the impact it has on our educational programs.”
California schoolchildren have learned about Chavez as an “American hero” who embodies “respect for the rights of others” — and preschools use books like Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez in kindergarten, according to California’s official curriculum framework.
“César E. Chávez was a good man who dedicated his life to helping others,” reads a lesson given in kindergarten through second grade.
“César dedicated his whole life to making the world a better place and to serving others.” He continued to work to bring respect, dignity, justice and fair treatment to the poor, farm workers and people everywhere.
The government’s Ministry of Education maintains an extensive archive on Chavez’s life – including speeches and essays written by the late activist and letters to him from school children.
Lesson plans for March 31, California’s Cesar Chavez state holiday, instruct youth to “verbalize why he is an American hero” and describe his “worldview,” depending on grade level.
“The struggle for the civil rights of farmworkers and immigrant communities is bigger than one person and continues to be very active today,” Elizabeth Sanders, spokeswoman for the California Department of Education, told Calmatters. “We are against survivors of violence, including especially gender-based violence, which has no place in our society.”
“[Students] you will learn about Chávez as a family man, as a husband, as a father and grandfather. They will learn about the role religion played in Chávez’s life,” reads the second grade lesson.
A popular college-level textbook called “America: The Essential Learning Edition” has a portrait of Chavez on the cover of another recent edition.
About a dozen schools in California are named after Chavez, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Top lawmakers said Thursday they will rename March 31 Farm Workers Day as officials across the country scrub Chavez’s name and image in public spaces.
Los Angeles County Administrator Hilda Solis has called for the renaming of all parks, streets, institutions and other public programs named after Chavez.
Likewise, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the California Latino Legislative Caucus said they would pursue name changes.
