ARLINGTON - Arlington school board members could create a Cesar Chavez holiday this week. Many school officials and students say it's appropriate.
Thirty-nine percent of Arlington students are Hispanic, and they have the highest drop out rate. Some district officials think a Cesar Chavez holiday might change that, and some students agree.
"Everybody recognizes what Martin Luther King Junior did for African Americans," said Keanu Ramirez, an Arlington High School student. "It's the same thing. Everyone will begin to recognize Cesar Chavez for what he did for Mexican immigrants."
The district's calendar committee voted unanimously to recommend March 28 as "Cesar Chavez Day." AISD would be the first in the state, according to board member Gloria Pena. She said she thinks Hispanic students will especially identify with Chavez's struggles.
"Someone to look up to, someone they can see that despite adversity he was able to be successful and bring about that which he did," she said.
Chavez was a Mexican American farm worker and civil rights activist who founded what later became the United Farm Workers Union.
Rather than add a holiday, AISD would replace May's "Cinco de Mayo."
Assistant superintendent Jimmy Walker said he has heard little opposition so far.
"We're promoting diversity in our district," he said.
Walker said the issue was a discussion item at the last school board meeting, but no one spoke on it. Now, it's scheduled to be voted on Thursday night.
Many students said they know little about Chavez, and few had strong opinions about the holiday. But, that was not the case for Ramirez, who said he still recalls the report he wrote on Chavez years ago.
"All the stuff he did, he deserves something," he said.
E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com
