Requesting The Department Of Education To Convene A Working Group To Develop A Written Plan For Every Public School Elementary, Middle, And High School To Provide A Unit Of Instruction In Asian American And Pacific Islander History As Part Of Their Required Curriculum, Commencing With The 2024-2025 School Year.
Impact
The adoption of this curriculum unit aims to foster greater cultural awareness and understanding among students about AAPI contributions to U.S. society and the historical discrimination they faced. It intends to empower students by allowing them to grasp their own ethnic identities and civic responsibilities. Furthermore, the initiative addresses a recent increase in discrimination against Asians in the U.S., particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a need for education to combat stereotypes and promote inclusivity.
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 153 (SCR153) requests the Hawaii Department of Education to establish a working group to develop a curriculum unit on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history for all public K-12 schools in the state, effective in the 2024-2025 academic year. The resolution highlights the inadequacies in the current school curriculum regarding AAPI history and calls for the inclusion of significant historical events such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the impact of U.S. policies on Pacific Islanders.
Contention
While supporters see the resolution as a necessary step towards inclusive education, there may be contention surrounding its implementation. Some educators and stakeholders may express concerns over resource allocation for curriculum development and training, as well as the potential pushback from those who could view the inclusion of AAPI history as a politicization of the school curriculum. It is essential that the curriculum developed is both accurate and free from bias, ensuring that it contributes positively to all students' understanding of diversity and inclusion.
Same As
Requesting The Department Of Education To Convene A Working Group To Develop A Written Plan For Every Public School Elementary, Middle, And High School To Provide A Unit Of Instruction In Asian American And Pacific Islander History As Part Of Their Required Curriculum, Commencing With The 2024-2025 School Year.
Expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to September 28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week".
A resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to September 28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week".