The teaching of American history, the effect of teaching Asian American history.

Long taught in schools, the history of America. The Revolutionary War, Civil War, slavery, the beginnings of the government, all subjects students know well. The independence fight from Great Britain, establishing America. The civil war and America's fight against America. Slavery, America's brutal forced employment and why it existed. The beginnings of the government, the temporary White House and the election of the first president. Examples of the simple history in school, stretching all the way to the complicated history to each general and each battle, the Confederate's Robert E. Lee to Britain's General Burgoyne.

The teaching of Revolutionary American history, Black American history, African American history...but what about Asian American and Pacific Islander history?

Untaught in school, unknown in school, disregarded. Why? The disappearance of the notable and extensive AAPI history, lost in modern schools. A 1929 picture by the Chicago Sun times presents 3 children of Chinese descent...in Chicago, holding a Republic of China (at the time) and American flag, a representation of AAPI history and the shade pulled over people's eyes about AAPI history. Change was needed, and change was coming. Governor J.B. Pritzker breaks the deadlock. Asian American history becomes a mandate in public schools in Illinois. Amid the obnoxious rise of AAPI violence in 16 big US cities, an average 150% increase in AAPI violence over the previous year. The first quarter of 2021 alone, averaging a near 170% increase. But thinking starts with knowledge. Knowledge comes from understanding. That understanding, coming from elementary and high schools across Illinois starting 2022. The start of AAPI education, knowledge, and more intelligent decisions. Instruction on the history of the Midwest AAPI history is a start. Instruction on AAPI contributions are a start. AAPI arts, sciences, civil rights, all a start. A start to the knowledge of such history and figures in American history. The first state to implement this, an advance in widespread information and knowledge about Asian American history. Only a start. Just a start. A good start with a good, developing future.

So what's happening in other states? 25 states of the United States, only 25, include information of a single AAPI historical event and 14 states include one more topic. Respectively, the Japanese internment of WWII appears in the curriculum of 25 states and anti-AAPI immigration laws in the curriculum of 14 states. Though, is this really enough?

Far back stretches the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, with nearly all of the history occurring here in the continental US. Small numbers of mentions in school curriculums out of many downfalls bestowed upon the AAPI population are taught. New York with the largest, with 14 total mentions in the curriculum relating to AAPI figures, followed by Minnesota with 9, Oregon/Hawaii with 8, and Massachusetts/Maryland/Tennessee with 7.

Yet, a review of 18 states portrayed a astounding absence of AAPI history in the curriculum! For example, the Los Angeles riots of 1992, the fight of Fred Korematsu, and the inability of many AAPI students to attend their schools due being noted as "colored" during the segregation of the US.

Reasonably, there must be time to teach this in curriculums given that students must prepare for tests, right? Well, there is near to no time to teach this, because content is not included on major tests and teachers attempt to self-integrate the lessons of AAPI history. The time must be allocated to learn about this topic and it should be allocated into the tests. Awareness is key. But, in another way, students' feeling of inclusion is key as well.

For example, of Boston middle schoolers (prior to the COVID-19 closure), nearly 82% of the 9% of Asian students of Boston middle schoolers are not able to get the help or do not get the mental help they need. Sadly, students must look towards exclusive classrooms and discouraging classrooms that are not able to teach them about their place in America, much less school. As seemingly low priority in student care, such students must learn to "deal with it", according to an article by Boston Globe.

So, the change and implementation of the AAPI history in Illinois' curriculum, is only a start. Many facts point to the dire reasons we need AAPI history to allow students to learn their own history. A while, it will take to develop, but it's good to look forward to it.

Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/illinois-becomes-first-state-mandate-teaching-asian-american-history-public-schools-180978160/