Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R-15), a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, has introduced a bill that would require the teaching of Asian American history in the state’s public schools. With the bill, she said that she wants students to learn about the achievements of prominent Asian Americans as well as historical events such as the Chinese Exclusion Act.

“It’s so people understand the horrible things that happened in history and don’t repeat them, but it’s also to understand the achievements of Asian-Americans such as Yo-Yo Ma, Kamala Harris, and Lucy Liu,” she told the Boston Globe.

Should it pass, the bill would require schools to “include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian-American history, including the history of Asian-Americans in Rhode Island and the Northeast.” The bill goes on to state, “The studying of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.”

“Education creates cultural understanding that can help to break through stereotypes,” Fenton-Fung said.