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There are nearly 200 diverse classes offered at Bellevue High School, and many of them are social studies. But there are very few classes dedicated to studying the variety of cultural identities around us. In a city and school that is approximately 40% Asian American (the highest racial percentage), how much do we actually know of their history? While major detrimental events like the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese internment are certainly not glossed over, how much credit for their contributions is still missing? That is why a new class is being introduced to BHS, called Asian American Studies.
Ava Chen, a BHS junior, became the proponent for this course when she attended a Stop Asian Hate rally in 2022. This inspired her to read books written by Asian Americans and become more educated on how little of their history is actually taught. She then consulted with her classmates and teachers and found that they also agreed with this. In fact, Chen conducted a survey to 180 students 7th through 11th graders last year, and 76 percent expressed that they would like to learn more about Asian American history or take this course.
“There is a significant disparity in how much people know about Asian American history compared to other histories, and it is rarely addressed in class,” Chen says.
However, getting the proposed class accepted was not easy.
“[The process] includes a staff member developing a course description and learning goals that align with state standards and district graduation requirements. This then goes through an approval process,” Carolyn Yuen, Bellevue School District’s social studies and ELA curriculum director, says.
Chen expressed great thanks towards Matthew Busch, an AP Modern World History teacher, for his guidance and encouragement, as without him it would have been difficult to even start the proposal process.
Thus, what exactly would Asian American Studies teach? According to parts of its mission statement, “This course explores the history, culture, and identity of the Asian diaspora through literature, film, art, music, pop culture, and major historical events…[examining]…immigration, exclusion, activism, and modern media representation…”
Fortunately, this class has already been approved by the district, but difficulties can still arise for us to see it in the curriculum next year. The district is currently creating the course content and trying to find its appropriate teachers. In addition, its success is also reliant on the amount of student interest and signup next year. So, to learn about the intricacies of Asian American History and to show your support for a class that originated from BHS, make sure to sign up! Colleges appreciate dedication to learning what truly interests you, even if it is off the well-trodden path.
