 |
| Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (2nd from left) with some of the state's community leaders. |
“Rhode Island’s strength is in its diversity, and this important legislation will do so much to highlight the rich history and heritage of the Asian American community and the positive impact they’ve had on our state and country,” said Governor Dan McKee.
McKee was joined Saturday by Senator Sandra Cano and Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, and other community leaders to ceremonially sign legislation which requires all public elementary and secondary schools in Rhode Island to provide at least one unit of instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander History and culture.
The ceremonial bill signing took place during the opening ceremonies of the Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival in Pawtucket on Saturday morning.
The legislation (2022-S 2910A, 2022-H 7272A) requires every public elementary school and secondary school, beginning in the 2023-24 school year, to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) history, including the history of AA and NHPIs in Rhode Island and the Northeast, as well as the contributions of AA and NHPIs toward advancing civil rights.
“Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have been a vital part of Rhode Island’s history dating back to the 1800s and continuing through today, and our state is stronger for it,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “Let’s keep working to ensure that every Rhode Island student can learn about each vibrant culture that makes our state unique.”
“According to the 2020 Census, Rhode Island’s Asian American community has grown 28% over the last decade and in order to ensure that our society respects the dignity of all races and peoples, it is important that our children learn about the history and contributions made by the various different cultures within our state,” said Senator Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), bill sponsor.
“When talking to Asian American students about this bill, they told me they had never been assigned material to read by an Asian American author and that they had never learned about their history or culture in school," said state Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R-Dist. 15, Cranston), bill sponsor.
With the signing, Rhode Island now joins New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois in requiring Asian American studies in the public school curriculum.
The ceremonial bill signing took place during the opening ceremonies of the Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival in Pawtucket on Saturday morning.
The legislation (2022-S 2910A, 2022-H 7272A) requires every public elementary school and secondary school, beginning in the 2023-24 school year, to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) history, including the history of AA and NHPIs in Rhode Island and the Northeast, as well as the contributions of AA and NHPIs toward advancing civil rights.
“Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have been a vital part of Rhode Island’s history dating back to the 1800s and continuing through today, and our state is stronger for it,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “Let’s keep working to ensure that every Rhode Island student can learn about each vibrant culture that makes our state unique.”
“According to the 2020 Census, Rhode Island’s Asian American community has grown 28% over the last decade and in order to ensure that our society respects the dignity of all races and peoples, it is important that our children learn about the history and contributions made by the various different cultures within our state,” said Senator Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), bill sponsor.
The move towards mandating teaching about AANHPI culture and history comes on as attacks against Asian Americans continue. Since the beginning of the pandemic, anti-Asian attacks have increased because of the link towards the virus' origins in China that had been emphasized by the Donald Trump administration.
Educators and social scientists believe the absence of Asian American history in public schools has contributed to racial bias and fear directed at AANHPI.
A recent survey by STAATUS (Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S.) found that almost half of Americans could not name one prominent Asian American, completely forgetting that Vice President Kamala Harris is Indian American.
“When talking to Asian American students about this bill, they told me they had never been assigned material to read by an Asian American author and that they had never learned about their history or culture in school," said state Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R-Dist. 15, Cranston), bill sponsor.
"Combined with the rising bias against Asian Americans, there is a clear need to break this cycle of cultural misunderstandings and this legislation is a good first step in that direction, acknowledging and celebrating the instrumental role that Asian Americans have had in our state, country and culture,”
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment