California teachers are being asked to rapidly edit or purge references to labor leader and accused child rapist Cesar Chavez — who has for years been presented as a model of “honesty, courage, and determination” starting in kindergarten.
The California Department of Education is updating its 800-page social studies and history curriculum to tamp down references to Chavez, who was accused of raping and molesting two girls starting when they were as young as 12 and assaulting his longtime ally, Dolores Huerta, per Calmatters.
Los Angeles Unified School District is also reviewing “curriculum and resources” about Chavez in light of the allegations.
“We’re all deeply, deeply troubled by the allegations that have come forward,” Acting Superintendent Andrés E. Chait told reporters Thursday. “We are assessing the impact it’s having on our educational programs.”
California schoolchildren have learned about Chavez as an “American hero” who embodied “respect for the rights of others” — with pubic schools using 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,” a lesson offered for kindergarten through second grade reads.
“César dedicated the rest of his 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, to farm workers, and to people everywhere.”
The state education department maintains an extensive archive dedicated to Chavez’s life — including speeches and essays penned by the deceased activist and letters to him from admiring school children.
Lesson plans for March 31, California’s official Cesar Chavez state holiday, instruct youngsters to “orally state why he is an American hero” and describe his “world vision,” depending on the grade level.
“The civil rights struggle of farm workers and immigrant communities is larger than one person and continues to be highly relevant today,” Elizabeth Sanders, spokeswoman for the California Department of Education, told Calmatters. “We stand with survivors of violence, including and especially gender-based violence, which has no place in our society.”
“[Students] will learn about Chávez as a family man, as a husband, as a father and grandfather. They will learn about the role that religion played in Chávez’s life,” a second grade lesson reads.
A popular college-level textbook called “America: The Essential Learning Edition” bears Chavez’s likeness on the cover of one recent edition.
Roughly three 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 state feverishly scrub Chavez’s name and image from public spaces.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis has called to rename all parks, streets, facilities and other public programs named after Chavez.
Likewise, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the California Latino Legislative Caucus said they will pursue name changes.
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