This year, public schools across Connecticut will be required to include Asian American and Pacific Islander studies as part of their curriculum.
The state passed a law about this three years ago. A teacher in Simsbury is providing a look at what that could look like.
It’s in this classroom at Simsbury High School where English teacher Michelle Henry has had a rewarding experience.
“It’s a great course where students can really learn to think critically and to be able to analyze multiple stories,” Henry said.
For the past three years, she’s piloted an Asian American studies course that can earn students college credit.
With the help of UConn, her students examine the history and experiences of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
This could be through personal stories about the Japanese incarceration during World War II or the Chinese Educational Mission in Connecticut.
She also assigns a project to every student to examine their own family history.
“The immigrant story is so much a part of our American story and it’s so much of the students own personal history,” Henry said.
It had an impact on Langley Hong who took Henry’s class last year as a senior, giving him context for his Korean heritage.
“It helped me connect more to my grandparents. See what kind of struggles they had to go through,” he said.
Simsbury High School is ahead of the curve when it comes to a state law requiring public schools to include AAPI studies into their curriculum starting this school year.
Henry said it doesn’t necessarily have to be a standalone course like hers, which is only offered at a handful of schools. It could include things like field trips, particularly for younger students.
“We want kids to be able to experience and see themselves, especially if they’re Asian Americans. They’re able to see the supermarket where they go with their family,” Henry said.
Hong’s mother said Henry’s class has given her son a sense of belonging about his identity.
“Seeing him gain more confidence, comfort even into growing who he was, was amazing,” Lara White said.
Henry said ultimately, she wants students to learn about empathy for others in their community.
“They see ‘Wow, I can connect with that!’ regardless of their racial background,” she said.
When asked about whether there could be changes demanded by the federal government, Henry said her course will continue to follow state standards, but will adjust if there’s any changes in guidance from places like UConn.
