Livingston Teen Welcomes The News That More NJ Schools Will Teach Asian-American History

LIVINGSTON, NJ — When Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill last week to expand the teaching of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) history in social studies classes, a local student welcomed the news.

Time Magazine reported this week that new laws in New Jersey and Illinois insure that Asian history is taught, such as lessons about Japanese interment during World War II.

"New Jersey is the second state, after Illinois, to mandate teaching of AAPI history," notes the story. "About 30 percent of AAPI parents said their child experienced a hate incident at school in the past year."

Among those commenting in the Time story was Russell Fan, a Livingston High School senior.

The story says that Fan advocated for the law and "is frustrated that he first learned about Filipino-American civil rights activist Larry Itliong and Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress, on his own. 'It was a shame that we could not learn about them in school,' he says."

Fan and other Livingston students also founded an AAPI Student Alliance last year to raise awareness and celebrate heritage.

The Time story noted that other states are considering similar legislation. It also notes that Republicans supporting the New Jersey law spoke out against "Critical Race Theory." Read more in Time here.

Read more about the state law here: READ MORE: NJ Laws Expand Asian American Heritage In Social Studies Classes

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