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American Asian history is now required to be taught in Illinois public schools

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Illinois

This is the first year AAPI history courses will be taught in East St.. Louis School District and all other Illinois public schools.

The Teaching Equitable Asian American History (TEAACH) Act was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in July 2021 to educate students and help combat false stereotypes at the height of hate crimes during COVID-19 pandemic.

We spoke with the Director of Curriculum for East St. Louis School District, Antoinette Johnson, who said the curriculum will be worked into social studies, history, science and math classes for students.

She adds, teachers have been attending several monthly meetings leading up to the first day of class to design the lesson plans for the new AAPI curriculum.

* PBS interview with North Grand High School teacher Mueze Bawany…

“The biggest blessings of being educators is getting our students to understand who exists and who’s out there and also kind of pushing them towards the lens of humanity.

Why the stories of others matter and why we should lens why should we should see it as an appreciation, but also an opportunity to reach out and make some connections and build community together. It’s beautiful, right?

I often thought about my experiences and not being able to live understand my story in my history. And that kind of felt like looking in the mirror and not seeing anything back.

So the opportunity for Asian American students in our district to be able to learn, to learn their stories, and also for others from so many different backgrounds to learn the stories of Asian Americans in this country. It’s just beautiful. I mean, this is what education is about right?”

* NPR explains required topics after JB Pritzker signed the act into law in 2021…

The Teaching Equitable Asian American History (TEAACH) Act comes at a time when growing numbers of Asian Americans have become the targets of hate crimes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Americans are facing hate incidents at a higher rate than ever reported before, and the Democratic governor says teaching students about Asian American history will help combat false stereotypes. […]

Required topics that will be covered in the new school year include the Asian Americans advancing civil rights and the contributions Asian Americans have made in government, the arts, sciences, economics and politics.

Asian American history is American history. Yet we are often invisible. The TEAACH Act will ensure that the next generation of Asian American students won’t need to attend law school to learn about their heritage,” said State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, who sponsored the legislation.

“Empathy comes from understanding. We cannot do better unless we know better. A lack of knowledge is the root cause of discrimination and the best weapon against ignorance is education,” she said.

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:31 am

Comments

Sounds like one step closer to teaching the actual history of America in American History.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:38 am
How about just teaching history. So tired of the race division amplified by government policy.

Comment by Hamlet on the Potomac Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:49 am
===How about just teaching history===

This is history.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:51 am
**How about just teaching history. So tired of the race division amplified by government policy.**

I’m so tired of people thinking that the history that they were taught as a kid is actually the real American history.

Comment by SaulGoodman Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:56 am
I thought history was just supposed to be about wars…

Comment by Ok Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:57 am
=== ===How about just teaching history===

This is history.===

Right there, that’s the issue with folks so unwilling to look at some of the ugliness that does exist, they can’t grasp the simple;

This. Is. History

The only aggrieved party, are those we as a society deny the history we all lived.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 11:59 am
Is there an act signed into law that insures all students have certified, credentialed educators in the classroom? The shortage of teachers in Illinois and the US does not bode well for students.

It is especially urgent in grades one through five as foundational skills in reading, phonics, and mathematics are introduced during those years. Without this base, students will struggle going forward.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:00 pm
Instead of characterizing it as “requiring schools teach Asian-American history”, why not characterize it as “ensuring the history and contributions of Asian Americans are included when teaching American history”.

It’s semantics, but since some folks out there view this as distasteful medicine they are being forced to take, why not try to make it easier for them to swallow it?

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:05 pm
===were taught as a kid is actually the real American history===

Anyone who went to college knew on the first day that the history they learned in 6-12 wasn’t actually history.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:06 pm
==Anyone who went to college knew on the first day that the history they learned in 6-12 wasn’t actually history.==

And usually, particularly in smaller schools, the history teacher was more often than not a coach (mostly basketball or football).

Comment by StateEmployeeThatIsNotInAFSCME Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:21 pm
===So tired of the race division amplified by government policy.**===

You do realize the history we learned in 6-12 was mostly white European history? This has nothing to do with race division, it’s about teaching actual history.

Comment by Baloneymous Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:21 pm
===And usually, particularly in smaller schools, the history teacher was more often than not a coach (mostly basketball or football).===

I have no idea what that means in any context or understanding.

The textbooks and curriculum is decided. Maybe your beef isn’t with the teacher or what you think or feel is a deficiency, but with the curriculum…

… which is *exactly* what this post and change is about.

“But teachers…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:24 pm
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:05 pm:

There’s no semantics that are going to get racists on board with this. They want white history and they want it for a reason, even if they won’t come right out and say it.

Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:26 pm
==The textbooks and curriculum is decided. Maybe your beef isn’t with the teacher or what you think or feel is a deficiency, but with the curriculum…==

My beef is actually with the quality of instruction of high school history (and the quality and qualifications of the teacher), including the emphasis on date and facts memorization. As opposed to real historical study in college with actual historians as professors with an emphasis on analysis.

I know, I was there. Going from small school history taught by the coach to studying and doing real history in college.

Comment by StateEmployeeThatIsNotInAFSCME Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 12:31 pm
-How about just teaching history.-

As defined by who? You?

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:12 pm
“It’s semantics, but since some folks out there view this as distasteful medicine they are being forced to take, why not try to make it easier for them to swallow it?”

Because it won’t matter. They would move the goal posts again to disguise their true discomfort with anything that challenges their existing worldview.

Comment by wildcat12 Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:14 pm
===How about just teaching history===

Remember that day in history class when they taught us about the Tulsa Race Massacre? Yea, me neither. That’s why this requirement is important.

Comment by Emmerder Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:19 pm
Friends, no one wants to feel persecuted, and be taught to hate themselves and their ancestors, especially our little ones in school being taught by the global elites in public school. That’s why I’ll make it my job on day 1 to eliminate the teaching of actual history in our schools, and make gun-toting teachers teach real history like that depicted by John Wayne, affectionately known as ‘Duke’ to us NRA members…you know, ‘real’ people. Shoutout to the hellhole. /s

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:37 pm
public Servant. I’m available to help.

Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 1:47 pm
I taught history when I was in the classroom. We used primary resources and taught about the triangle trade, slavery, the destruction of indigenous peoples, but we also taught our students about the positive aspects of American history. You CAN do both. You can depict American history in a way that covers our successes and failures. For districts that are doing it right, the new requirements may not mean much change at all.

The real challenge comes in deciding the depth and breadth of a history course. In Illinois you need 2.5 credits in social studies and one course needs to be Civics/Government. And kids want to take other electives so US History is usually relegated to a one year course when it needs to be two years, at least, to do a respectable job of covering our entire history. But there is a ton that can be dropped. I was lucky, when I was in the classroom we taught a curriculum that was more about specific themes versus a strictly chronological telling of American history.

=My beef is actually with the quality of instruction of high school history (and the quality and qualifications of the teacher), including the emphasis on date and facts memorization. As opposed to real historical study in college with actual historians as professors with an emphasis on analysis.

I know, I was there. Going from small school history taught by the coach to studying and doing real history in college.=

Just curious, do you happen to have any data to back up the very broad statements?

It is important to have staff coach and lead extracurricular activities.

But nice of you to insult an entire profession. And we wonder why we cannot find teachers.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:14 pm
- Anyone who went to college knew on the first day that the history they learned in 6-12 wasn’t actually history. -

That’s being generous. Plenty of people I know that went to college still don’t know that.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 2:49 pm
This is very important and timely legislation with the 2024 presidential election approaching where both major parties are poised to potentially nominate Asian Americans at the top of the ticket. As Asian American history is being taught in schools, Asian Americans will be making history in the headlines.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 23, 22 @ 4:03 pm