The Texas Education Agency on Monday directed every public school in the state to immediately remove César Chávez from classroom lessons and cancel events planned for César Chávez Day on March 31, following a New York Times investigation that revealed sexual abuse allegations against the late farmworker rights leader.
In written guidance issued Monday, the TEA ordered school districts to cancel or otherwise redirect any events and activities tied to Chávez — an extension of Gov. Greg Abbott's directive to state agencies not to observe the optional holiday.
The TEA described the allegations as "recent horrific and widely acknowledged allegations of sexual abuse committed by Cesar Chavez," and directed districts to eliminate, modify, or otherwise alter learning activities, individual lessons, and supplemental materials that reference him.
The directive carries significant classroom implications. Under the current state Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum, students are required to learn about Chávez in multiple grades, including fifth grade and U.S. history. The TEA cited the Texas Education Code provision stating that a teacher cannot be compelled to discuss a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs, and formally notified districts it will not treat the removal of Chávez-focused content as a compliance issue.
The allegations stem from a New York Times investigation that revealed Chávez had sexually assaulted and abused women and girls. Among the accusers is Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Chávez and told the Times she had been sexually assaulted by him but kept it secret for 60 years, fearing damage to the farmworker movement.
Texas school districts are already responding in different ways. Austin ISD announced it will honor Huerta — not Chávez — on March 31, while Houston ISD renamed the holiday "Farmworkers Day" and is weighing whether to rename its César E. Chávez High School. San Antonio is conducting a public survey on whether to rename César E. Chávez Boulevard.
The TEA also said it is working to revise the state's TEKS curriculum to remove the focus on Chávez as soon as possible. The agency said regional education service centers are available to help districts adjust instructional materials in the meantime.
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The allegations stem from a New York Times investigation that revealed Chávez had sexually assaulted and abused women and girls
