Bill highlighting Chinese American history in curriculum passes senate education Committee

Sacramento – The Senate Education Committee approved AB 2864, authored by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), which will ensure that students in California receive instruction regarding the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the contributions made by Chinese-Americans in establishing the Transcontinental Railroad.
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“Despite facing hardship, discrimination and unequal treatment, Chinese-Americans have played a significant role in the history of California and the United States,” said Assemblymember Chau. “It is imperative that students learn about the origins and implications of discrimination in any society, and the contributions made by California’s diverse communities, in order to develop an acceptance of diversity and full respect for human rights.”
The Instructional Quality Commission plays an integral role in determining the subject matter taught to students in the classroom.  It sets standards that form the basis of California’s curriculum frameworks and documents, which guide the implementation of these standards.   The first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 with Chinese laborers representing a significant portion of the labor force. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first major law to single out and forbid a specific ethnic group, the Chinese, from immigrating to, and becoming naturalized citizens of the United States.
“I am pleased to see AB 2864 move forward because as it will ensure that these historical events will continue to be highlighted in the framework and taught in classrooms throughout California,” concluded Assemblymember Chau.
Assemblymember Ed Chau represents the 49th Assembly District, comprised of the communities of Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City and portions of Montebello, and South El Monte.

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