Why the César Chávez March won’t begin at Pueblo High

by David Safier

You could see this one coming. One weak-willed decision by TUSD to disband the Mexican American Studies program leads to a predictable string of bad decisions. The most visible is the banning of books from use by former MAS teachers. And now this.

This year's César Chávez March willl be held this Saturday, March 31, starting at 9am at St. John's Catholic Church (NW corner of Ajo and S. 12th Ave.). For years, it has begun at Pueblo High. The district's refusal allow the high school to be used as a staging ground is a direct result of the MAS controversy.

OK, let me be more exact. The district didn't refuse to allow the marchers to use Pueblo High. It just:

1. Demanded there be no reference to the elimination of the MAS program.
2. Demanded there be no disparaging comments about the TUSD administration.
3. Demanded the District be allowed to choose the emcee to make sure # 1 and #2 are properly enforced.

It's all perfectly reasonable when you think about it. Why would TUSD allow school grounds to be used to condemn the actions taken by the District? Once the Board and administration started down the slippery slope of ending a program whose purpose is to teach about Mexican American history and literature, they really can't allow an event on school grounds that will talk about the latest event in Mexican American history: TUSD's disbanding of the MAS program.

And it's also perfectly reasonable that the organizers of the march would refuse to accept those conditions.

The result? TUSD has added insult — "No, you can't begin your celebration of César Chávez on school grounds" — to the injury caused to students by taking away classes they hold dear. Add César Chávez to the list of casualties of TUSD's caving to Huppenthal, Horne and their like.

You can see the flier with all the information about the march below the fold.