Asian-American history will now be part of the curriculum in Illinois schools

Posted on July 12, 2021
Gov. JB Pritzker signed the bill last week at Niles West High School in Skokie. (Twitter/Governor JB Pritzker)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The timing of governor’s signing of a new law mandating Asian-American history be taught in Illinois classrooms is no coincidence.

While the discussion has been ongoing, “it occurred to us that this was the best way for us to respond to the rise in anti-Asian hate and xenophobia that we have seen in the pandemic,” said the House sponsor, State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview).

The daughter of Khmer Rouge genocide survivors, Laura Houquec Probhaker of the Cambodian Association of Illinois said children will learn lessons denied her growing up.

“Growing up the absence of aa history and culture in school continued to bother me,” Probhaker said at Friday’s bill-signing ceremony at Niles West High School in Skokie. “I wasn’t able to learn about my own family history at home due to refugee trauma which significantly impacted my upbringing. Because my parents lacked the resources needed, they pushed aside processing their trauma to focus on surviving in this new country.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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