Legislators and advocacy groups are calling for mandatory instruction of Asian American history in New York state public schools, saying the education would help counter anti-Asian violence.
Asian Americans comprise 11% of the state’s population, and that number has grown by 37.6% since the 2010 census, according to the Asian American Federation.
“The state’s population of Asian children increased 32.4% in the last decade compared to a 4.9% decrease in the population of all children,”On Friday, Asian American organizations will join the Rev. Jesse Jackson at a rally in Bayside, Queens, for the AAPI History Education bills, sponsored by Assemblymember Ron Kim and supported by Assemblymember Yuh-line Niou as well as Sen. Kevin Thomas, who is Indian American.
The legislation directs the policymaking state Board of Regents to develop a “course of study in the events of Asian American history.” It also directs the education commissioner to provide technical assistance “in the development of curricula on Asian American history and civic impact” and to provide suitable course materials. The legislation is currently in the Education Committee.
Liu argued that current textbooks are “not that different from when I was in school, using similar textbooks: a casual reference to the completion of the transcontinental railroad by Chinese immigrants, a reference to the concentration camps that Japanese Americans were forced into during World War II. Not a whole lot else.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man arrested with loaded AK-47 outside New York home of Iranian-American journalistThe journalist and women's rights activist called the arrest 'shocking' after the man was taken into police custody with a rifle outside her Brooklyn, New York residence.
Read more »
New York AG seeks crypto whistleblowers and 'deceived' investorsThe New York state attorney general put out a call for crypto whistleblowers on Monday, after the crypto market was upended earlier this summer.
Read more »
New York City declares monkeypox a public health emergencyOfficials in New York City declared a public health emergency due to the spread of the monkeypox virus Saturday, calling the city “the epicenter” of the outbreak.
Read more »
Speed cameras to operate 24/7 in New York City starting todaySpeed cameras around New York City will now run 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Read more »
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California and New York City settle with Postal Service over cigarettesNew York City and four states that had filed a lawsuit against the Postal Service announced a settlement in which the agency agreed it would destroy packages of cigarettes sent illegally to the U.S. from other countries.
Read more »