Teaching Hmong History in Schools
From the Oshkosh Northwestern, Jan 26, 2007
Lawmakers propose requirement to teach about Hmong (Northwestern staff & wire services)
State lawmakers on Thursday proposed requiring schools to teach about the Hmong people, saying suspicion of the new immigrants could be eased by an understanding of their past as U.S. allies in the Vietnam War. The bill, backed by a group of Assembly Democrats, is identical to one proposed in April 2005 that died when lawmakers adjourned last year. Sponsors said racial tensions rekindled by this month's homicide of a Hmong hunter could build support for passage this year.
More than 600 Hmong residents packed into the Assembly parlor to support the bill, having arrived in eight busloads from as far Oshkosh, Green Bay, Eau Claire and other communities. The plan would require school boards to come up with programs to teach about the Hmong in history classes, including their role as allies of the United States in the Vietnam War and why they left Southeast Asia. It would be up to school officials to determine how extensive the education would be.
Chiaxah Vang, refugee employment specialist at Advocap Inc. in Oshkosh, said the act would help the public learn more about Hmong history and the Hmong culture and how the Hmong helped the United States. Vang said there is a history of misunderstanding about Hmong history and culture.
"The Hmong people are not immigrants," Vang said. "We are refugees because we were oppressed by the Communists after the war and had to flee our land. That's why we are here and not because we saw America as a land of opportunity."...
State Sen. Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, said she supports the act and the recognition of the sacrifices Hmong fighters made to support American troops during the Vietnam War.
"I really do believe there needs to be education about these people who have integrated into our culture," Roessler said. "They fought communism and they were our helpers, friends and comrades. We have welcomed them in … and offered them a nation and community without the daily threat of pain and death."
Wisconsin, Minnesota and California are home to the largest populations of Hmong, an ethnic minority from Southeast Asia. Many Hmong fought alongside the U.S. in a so-called secret war against communists in Laos during the Vietnam War and later fled to avoid government persecution. Lawmakers said 50,000 Hmong live in Wisconsin.
Lawmakers said the death of Cha Vang, whose body was found Jan. 6 in a wildlife refuge near Green Bay, raised concerns among some in the Hmong community that the killing was retaliation for earlier hunting-related incidents. Two years ago, a Hmong deer hunter shot six white hunters to death after being accused of trespassing in the Wisconsin woods. He said the whites shouted racial epithets at him and opened fire first. He is serving life sentences. A white hunter was charged last week for Cha Vang's death.
"We felt this issue now has some urgency," said Rep. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee. "The fear and apprehension felt by our fellow Hmong citizens makes it important that we retell the important role they played in the Vietnam War."
Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said the bill could help foster more appreciation for the Hmong people and that it will get his support. "The contributions of the Hmong people to the United States during the Vietnam War have long gone unrecognized, and this legislation will give children the opportunity to learn about this rich history," Hintz said in a statement.
Rep. Donna Seidel, D-Wausau and the bill's lead sponsor, said the conflict has undermined Wisconsin's tradition of tolerance. "There are still some who view the Hmong community with suspicion," she said. "We can change this with education."
The bill faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Assembly, where some oppose state mandates on schools. It would also need approval in the Democratic-controlled Senate and by Gov. Jim Doyle to become law.
Northwestern reporters Aldrich M. Tan and Jeff Bollier contributed to this story. Click here to go to the story at the Northwestern.
Analysis - This should be included in a history discussion about Vietnam, at the very least once in a K-12 education. I am uncertain if the process necessitates a law.
Couldn't DPI introduce a requirement that all 6th grade History classes include a section on Hmong history? Couldn't DPI require the local districts develop their own plan to incorporate Hmong history into their curriculum?
DPI (Department of Public Instruction) would seem to be the office that addresses educational issues. I am not sure what process would occur if a law were passed in the legislature. Would they simply pass it over to DPI anyway?
Regardless of which route is taken, it is an important issue to address. It is equally important to include the Hmong community in the decision-making process. Schools and local Hmong Service agencies should take the lead and initiate an educational partnership, taking advantage of existing resources - such as bringing the Hmong new year celebration to the schools and using this as an avenue for teaching Hmong history.
Lawmakers propose requirement to teach about Hmong (Northwestern staff & wire services)
State lawmakers on Thursday proposed requiring schools to teach about the Hmong people, saying suspicion of the new immigrants could be eased by an understanding of their past as U.S. allies in the Vietnam War. The bill, backed by a group of Assembly Democrats, is identical to one proposed in April 2005 that died when lawmakers adjourned last year. Sponsors said racial tensions rekindled by this month's homicide of a Hmong hunter could build support for passage this year.
More than 600 Hmong residents packed into the Assembly parlor to support the bill, having arrived in eight busloads from as far Oshkosh, Green Bay, Eau Claire and other communities. The plan would require school boards to come up with programs to teach about the Hmong in history classes, including their role as allies of the United States in the Vietnam War and why they left Southeast Asia. It would be up to school officials to determine how extensive the education would be.
Chiaxah Vang, refugee employment specialist at Advocap Inc. in Oshkosh, said the act would help the public learn more about Hmong history and the Hmong culture and how the Hmong helped the United States. Vang said there is a history of misunderstanding about Hmong history and culture.
"The Hmong people are not immigrants," Vang said. "We are refugees because we were oppressed by the Communists after the war and had to flee our land. That's why we are here and not because we saw America as a land of opportunity."...
State Sen. Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, said she supports the act and the recognition of the sacrifices Hmong fighters made to support American troops during the Vietnam War.
"I really do believe there needs to be education about these people who have integrated into our culture," Roessler said. "They fought communism and they were our helpers, friends and comrades. We have welcomed them in … and offered them a nation and community without the daily threat of pain and death."
Wisconsin, Minnesota and California are home to the largest populations of Hmong, an ethnic minority from Southeast Asia. Many Hmong fought alongside the U.S. in a so-called secret war against communists in Laos during the Vietnam War and later fled to avoid government persecution. Lawmakers said 50,000 Hmong live in Wisconsin.
Lawmakers said the death of Cha Vang, whose body was found Jan. 6 in a wildlife refuge near Green Bay, raised concerns among some in the Hmong community that the killing was retaliation for earlier hunting-related incidents. Two years ago, a Hmong deer hunter shot six white hunters to death after being accused of trespassing in the Wisconsin woods. He said the whites shouted racial epithets at him and opened fire first. He is serving life sentences. A white hunter was charged last week for Cha Vang's death.
"We felt this issue now has some urgency," said Rep. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee. "The fear and apprehension felt by our fellow Hmong citizens makes it important that we retell the important role they played in the Vietnam War."
Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said the bill could help foster more appreciation for the Hmong people and that it will get his support. "The contributions of the Hmong people to the United States during the Vietnam War have long gone unrecognized, and this legislation will give children the opportunity to learn about this rich history," Hintz said in a statement.
Rep. Donna Seidel, D-Wausau and the bill's lead sponsor, said the conflict has undermined Wisconsin's tradition of tolerance. "There are still some who view the Hmong community with suspicion," she said. "We can change this with education."
The bill faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Assembly, where some oppose state mandates on schools. It would also need approval in the Democratic-controlled Senate and by Gov. Jim Doyle to become law.
Northwestern reporters Aldrich M. Tan and Jeff Bollier contributed to this story. Click here to go to the story at the Northwestern.
Analysis - This should be included in a history discussion about Vietnam, at the very least once in a K-12 education. I am uncertain if the process necessitates a law.
Couldn't DPI introduce a requirement that all 6th grade History classes include a section on Hmong history? Couldn't DPI require the local districts develop their own plan to incorporate Hmong history into their curriculum?
DPI (Department of Public Instruction) would seem to be the office that addresses educational issues. I am not sure what process would occur if a law were passed in the legislature. Would they simply pass it over to DPI anyway?
Regardless of which route is taken, it is an important issue to address. It is equally important to include the Hmong community in the decision-making process. Schools and local Hmong Service agencies should take the lead and initiate an educational partnership, taking advantage of existing resources - such as bringing the Hmong new year celebration to the schools and using this as an avenue for teaching Hmong history.
posted by Vincent at 7:12 PM
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