Dear Commissioner Riley,

My name is Kritika Storer and together with Vivian Tung, we are the co-founders of the AAPI Alliance in Needham and surrounding areas. As parents of Asian-American students in MA public schools, we are writing to express our concerns about the lack of Asian-American History curriculum in Massachusetts’ education system. The recent rise of anti-Asian hate incidents and violence is a byproduct of the inadequacy of educational exposure to Asian American history. We plead that you take immediate action in adding Asian American history to Massachusetts’ education system. By adding Asian American history to our education system, we are laying a strong foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion for children. Thus, ensuring that students of all races and ethnicities will have a better understanding of Asian American communities and our history, leading to improved cross-cultural education which will help combat discrimination, racist stereotypes, and xenophobia. 

If Asian American history remains untaught in schools, the legacies and contributions of Asian Americans throughout history will be permanently erased causing our understanding of US history to be incomplete. After all, Asian American history is American history. Importantly, by adding Asian American history to our education system, Asian American students will have a chance to learn and understand their history in this country, not just stories of Asians outside the United States, so they can be proud of their heritage. Additionally, Asian American history will help create a framework for students of all races and ethnicities to better understand Asian American communities and help advance racial equity and potentially ameliorate future systemic inequality. There are countless numbers of significant Asian Americans history contributors, dating back as far as 1863. However, very few Americans—of all races and ethnicities—are taught about these momentous ground-breaking contributors of Asian Americans history.

We, hereby, urge you again to take immediate action and add Asian American history to Massachusetts’ education system now. It is crucial for Massachusetts students to gain a better understanding of Asian Americans and our history. Asian Americans have suffered far too long from discrimination and anti-Asian hate incidents and violence. We now no longer want to fall prey of racism and be the victims of hate and violence. We ask you to immediately implement the following:

1) add at least 1 unit of instruction of Asian American history curriculum to the current school core curriculum

2) teach Asian American history and experiences and not just the stories of Asians outside the United States

3) celebrate Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a series of activities each year.

4) ensure that public school library books accurately represent the student-ratio registered in our schools. 

We thank you in advance for your consideration and immediate action. We strongly believe that by adding Asian American history to our school system, our society will be more united, empathetic, and respectful to each other. Let’s end division and segregation now and start laying a stronger and more inclusive foundation for our children. 

Sincerely,

Kritika Storer and Vivian Tung