🚀 go-pugleaf

If you know of a high school that would probably be interested in
entering this contest, please reply by email.  Many thanks.

COUNCIL FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES EDUCATION 

Dr. Andrew Chin  
Executive Director  
Fellow, LBJ School of Public Affairs  
University of Texas at Austin  

July 14, 1994

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Contact:  Andrew Chin
                                                achin@dcs.kcl.ac.uk 

A new national competition promises to raise awareness of Asian
American history and politics in top U. S. high schools.
In March 1995, the first National Asian American Studies Examination will
recognize students who have endeavored to learn more about the contributions
and experiences of eight generations of ethnic Asians in the United States.

Although 8 million Asian Americans today represent the fastest-growing
ethnic minority group in the United States, recent polls by _The
Wall Street Journal_ show that most Americans are unaware of historical
discrimination against Asian Americans and consider Asian Americans
the ethnic group with which they are least familiar.

``The most effective means today for addressing this widespread ignorance
is through the high school history curriculum,'' says Dr. Andrew Chin,
Executive Director of the Council for Asian American Studies Education,
who is leading the organizing efforts for the contest.

Dr. Chin, a fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the
University of Texas at Austin and a Rhodes scholar, says that the contest
aims to improve the self-image of Asian American student participants
as they locate their place within American history and contemporary
society, while it raises awareness of the diverse perspectives of Asian
Americans among all participants and their teachers/sponsors.

The contest is open to all students enrolled at U. S. high schools,
public and private.  Direct invitations will be sent in August to the
history departments at more than 1,000 U. S. high schools which have
been successful in other recent national academic competitions. 

Interested students, parents and teachers are invited to add their high
schools to the mailing list by writing to Dr. Andrew Chin at the
LBJ School of Public Affairs, Drawer Y, The University of Texas at
Austin, Austin, Texas 78713, or by telephoning (512) 471-4962.

The examination will consist of 20 multiple-choice questions and a 75-word
short essay, to be completed in 45 minutes during one class period.
The examination will be based on two leading textbooks on Asian American
history and politics.  High-scoring students and their schools will
be recognized with scholarships and other awards.  It is anticipated
that other areas of Asian American studies, including literature, fine arts
and popular culture, will be covered in future examinations.

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Dr. Andrew Chin                       achin@dcs.kcl.ac.uk
Department of Computer Science     Office +44 71 873 2832
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