Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month in the Classroom

Provide space and support

Racism leaves scars. AAPIs have been made fun of for their facial features, had their names mispronounced and been told their food smells weird. They have been fetishized and left out of the racism conversation. Ignorant people have lumped AAPIs from different countries and cultures together, stripping them of their personal identities. Society has improved, but it is undeniable that racism against AAPIs lives on.

The American Psychological Association notes that Asian Americans are less likely to use mental health services than any other racial group. Many schools lack AAPI counselors, creating a cultural empathy gap for struggling AAPI students.

Teachers must protect AAPI students by responding to bullying and stereotyping in the classroom. At MESA, Princess organized an AAPI Community Check-In where staff and students can discuss the rise in anti-AAPI sentiment. “We created an advisory lesson to give anti-AAPI violence the attention it deserves,” says Princess. “We included concrete steps for students: Stay informed with resources, talk about it and reach out. We are continuing to work towards building exposure for students and equipping staff with tools to build that comfort.”

The work to be a better ally is especially important in communities where AAPIs might not have many other AAPIs to connect with.

“Being an ally to students is a very important part of being an educator,” notes Brian. “I want everyone who enters my classroom to feel safe, valued and appreciated. I teach in West Virginia where there is very little racial diversity. This makes curriculum focused on anti-racism even more important. My students need to know that the world is full of people who may differ from them in a variety of ways. My goal for my students is for them to grow into well-rounded citizens who are well-educated and accepting. I want my students to be able to identify racism and take an active stance against it.”