North Cook News

The author of the nation's first law mandating Asian-American history in a state's school curriculum spoke at the law's signing and said her “own family's history and the larger history of the Asian American community” inspired her to craft the bill.

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), a third-generation Chinese-American, and one of four Asian-Americans of the 118 members of the Illinois House, said she has the responsibility to ensure that the Asian-American community has a voice in the legislature, a right to stand up for themselves, and to know the real context of their history in the nation. She said this motivated her to sponsor the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act.

“The TEAACH ACT will ensure that the next generation Asian-American students won't need to travel across the country or attend law school to learn something about their heritage,” Gong-Gershowitz said at the signing at Niles West High School in Niles West Township. “Learning about my grandparents' struggle against the indignity of the Chinese Exclusion Act changed the trajectory of my life. It instilled in me a responsibility to advocate for the foundational American values of equal rights and justice under law and human rights for all people.”

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“The TEAACH act is also about uplifting Asian-American stories at a time of rising anti-Asian hate and violence,” she said. “The lack of representation in curriculum, in positions of power and in media leads to miseducation, which contributes to discrimination and violence towards Asian Americans. Empathy comes from understanding and we cannot do better unless we know better. But when Asian-American history isn't taught, it leaves a gap that can lead non-Asian people to believe in stereotypes and act toward Asian-Americans based on those stereotypes.”

Teary-eyed, Gong-Gershowitz thanked her family for filling in the gaps of what was lacking in history class.  

“A lack of knowledge is the root cause of discrimination and the best weapon against ignorance is education,” she said. “Today we make history as Illinois will become the first state in the nation to require that a unit of Asian-American history be included in our classrooms. I want to thank everyone who stood with us who made this possible and especially to my family. You made this possible.”

The bill found support in both chambers. State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is listed as one of the measure’s sponsors.

The Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act will require that “Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history, including the history of Asian Americans in Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Asian Americans toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted House Bill 376 into law when he signed it at a news conference in Niles West High School on July 9.