Lawmakers look to include more Hmong American studies in Wisconsin schools

A bill that would add more Hmong American and Asian American studies in Wisconsin schools has bipartisan support but hasn't moved ahead since a public hearing last month.

Current state law requires each school board to provide instructional programming for an "understanding of human relations," particularly in regard to American Indians, Black Americans and Hispanics. The new bill, Assembly 232, would expand that to include Hmong Americans and Asian Americans.

“I think it's important to recognize that Asian American history is American history,” state Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, said. “And it's not just the Asian students who benefit from the inclusion of these stories. It's all students in Wisconsin.”

After her parents immigrated to the United States, Hong, Korean American, said she was born and raised in Madison. When Hong came into office as the first Asian American state legislator in 2021, she said Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, asked her if she wanted to work together on the bill. Since then, Hong said they have been organizing with coalitions across the state to garner support and rally legislators.

“It's an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. Being the first means I also can’t be the last,” Hong said. “It's important that I help our communities feel seen and valued. And it's a great honor.”

The bill had a public hearing in the Assembly's education committee May 25, but has yet to be taken up in the Senate.

Hong said the Assembly hearing “was historic,” as the bill had never moved past co-sponsorship before.

Shankland and Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Schofield, have been introducing similar bills since 2019.

Last year, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards passed a resolution encouraging Wisconsin public schools to develop an educational curriculum and professional training to "teach the history, culture and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the economic, cultural and social development of Wisconsin and the USA."

The association also requested the state legislature provide sufficient funding to develop an appropriate model curriculum and training package.

The new bill has garnered support from many students, community members and legislators alike.

“My true belief is that the only way that we can get rid of racism and discrimination is through education,” Yee Leng Xiong, the executive director at the Hmong Charity Center, said. “Because one thing I've realized is that, throughout my years of working, oftentimes people are hateful or aggressive towards things that they are not familiar with, things that they're with their spirit of the unknown.”

Anti-Asian racism has been on the rise across the U.S. in recent years. According to Census Bureau data, the population of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Wisconsin grew 36% from 131,061 to 177,901 between 2010 to 2020 — much greater than the state’s overall growth rate of 3.6%.

The number of anti-Asian hate crimes, however, also grew along with the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the group Stop AAPI Hate, the number of anti-Asian hate incidents from March 2020 to June 2021 was 9,081 across the U.S., with 4,533 in January to June 2021 alone. Shootings in the Atlanta area March 16, 2021, killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women.

Xiong said he has noticed people reaching out to himself and other community leaders for assistance or questions in the face of discrimination.

By allowing friends, family and neighbors to learn more about Asian Americans, Xiong said he hopes the community becomes more appreciative, knowledgeable and supportive of others’ differences.

“I realize that there are a lot of disparities that still exist in our community here. So, being involved with the community at large and being involved in sharing and advocating for the needs of our Hmong community is very crucial,” Xiong said.

Xiong added that this bill could allow more Hmong Americans to feel proud of their heritage, and continue upholding the traditions and remembering the sacrifices of their ancestors who came before them.

Snyder said he got behind this bill because of his relationship with the Hmong neighbors and community members in his district. From them, he said he is amazed by their history, especially with the Vietnam War. Thousands of Hmong people fought for U.S.-led operations during the war in Vietnam and were then persecuted.

"I just keep trying to put ourselves in their shoes of leaving your home, leaving your agricultural-based economy, and coming to a whole foreign place not knowing the language," Snyder said. "The success they've had as entrepreneurs and everything over the course of the past four decades plus is just remarkable."

Snyder said the bill will continue adding to this conversation of diversity, especially in the education system.

"I just think that along with the history we have for our Black Americans, our Native Americans and Hispanics, that the Hmong and Asian Pacific should be included to just talk about the plight they were in and what they did to help us during the war," Snyder said. "I think we'll be richer for it."

Contact Skyler Chun atschun@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @skylerchun_.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin bill would add Hmong, Asian American studies in schools