Bill Text: HI SR115 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Education To Develop A Filipino History, Culture, And Identity Social Studies Course For High School Students.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-06-06 - Certified copies of resolutions sent, 06/06/22. [SR115 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SR115-Introduced.html

---

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	115
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A FILIPINO HISTORY, CULTURE, AND IDENTITY SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

 

 

     WHEREAS, in 2020, news reports indicated that anti-Asian hate crimes had increased nearly one hundred fifty percent in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, research on the use of racist language shows that language does have a profound impact on how people behave towards marginalized groups; and

 

     WHEREAS, increased education and understanding of Asian-American history and culture, and the contributions of Asian-Americans can reduce incidents of hostility, violence, and discrimination toward Asian Americans; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is currently no mandated curriculum regarding Asian American history in Hawaii schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, throughout the United States, there have been recent attempts to pass legislation relating to Asian American history; and

 

     WHEREAS, Filipinos are the largest Asian ethnic and non-white group in Hawaii, at more than twenty-five per cent of the population, and have had a long presence and cultural footprint in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite twenty-three per cent of Hawaii's public-school students being Filipino, the largest ethnic group in the Hawaii department of education system, there is a lack of Filipino representation in the education system; and

 

     WHEREAS, Filipino educators are underrepresented in higher education and K-12 education, with Filipino teachers representing eight per cent of the teaching force and five per cent of administration; and

 

     WHEREAS, when students are represented, they feel a stronger ethnic pride and identity, and are more empowered to positively contribute to their communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, research shows that when there is a family-school connection, teacher-student ethnicity match, culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum, and language programs where students' multilingual assets are utilized, students are more engaged and connected to their learning, resulting in higher levels of academic performance; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Education is requested to implement a social studies course for high school students to learn about Filipino history, culture, and identity; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to implement Filipino content into Department of Education content performance standards; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to integrate this curriculum into existing Filipino language classes and other courses and curricula, including language arts, math, social studies, science, and visual and performing arts; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to recruit Filipino teachers and support Filipino teachers to teach this course; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Hawaii State Board of Education and Superintendent of the Hawaii State Department of Education.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Implement Filipino History; Department of Education