ASIAN from being excluded to becoming a model minority

112 Pages·2016·4.31 MB·English

by  Hartlep, Nicholas D

Asian/American Curricular Epistemicide

Asian/American Curricular Epistemicide
From Being Excluded to Becoming a Model Minority
Foreword by Guofang Li
Nicholas D. Hartlep
Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
and
Daniel P. Scott
Austin Independent School District (AISD), Austin, Texas, USA
A C.I.P. record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN: 978-94-6300-637-8 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-94-6300-638-5 (hardback)
ISBN: 978-94-6300-639-2 (e-book)
Published by: Sense Publishers,
P.O. Box 21858,
3001 AW Rotterdam,
The Netherlands
https://www.sensepublishers.com/
Cover idea by Tak Toyoshima
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved © 2016 Sense Publishers
No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the
exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and
executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.
ADVANCED PRAISE FOR
ASIAN/AMERICAN CURRICULAR EPISTEMICIDE
“Race in the United States is both unabashedly transparent and strangely
elusive. At the same time it establishes clear borders of difference, it confounds
us with its hidden shadows and double meanings. It is the foundation from
which grows solidarity and justice, while at the same time, it is the very seed
from which stems horror, discrimination, and heartbreak. The ways in which
race manifests in all our lives, people of color and White, are not reserved by
one over another, but rather unfold into our broader understanding of self and
world, a world that is shared by all.
In this important book, Nicholas Hartlep and Daniel Scott conduct
a thorough investigation into the ways that racial epithets about Asian/
Americans enter into textbooks and teacher manuals commonly used in
elementary and secondary schools. In a detailed analysis of both visual
and historical representation across 3,600 pages of text, the authors push
the conversation into a discussion on the desirability of Asians as a socially
constructed and mythical model of success.
As Asian experience continues to be a phenomenon largely understudied
and misunderstood, the authors ask teachers to critically question the
processes of dehumanization that occur when groups of people are reduced
and overgeneralized as stereotypical imagery. At its end, this book makes
a significant contribution to scholarly work that seeks to foster meaningful
engagement with issues of race in K–12 curriculum.”
– Debbie Sonu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Studies, Hunter
College
“The quest to diversify and make the social studies curriculum more
equitable has seen some major strides over the last century. Yet, as Nicholas
Hartlep and Daniel Scott illustrate, the social studies field has a long way
to go by failing to present the full humanity of Asian/Americans through
history. Asian/American Curricular Epistemicide is a smart, engaging,
and thorough account of how social studies curriculum still serves as an
influential racial apparatus of stereotyping Asian/Americans through a single
narration. This book heightens our racial consciousness and refutes the racial
liberal narrative presented by most social studies textbooks. This book is
required reading for social studies teacher education programs, teachers, and
curriculum developers.”
– LaGarrett King, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Studies, University
of Missouri
Nicholas dedicates this book to his wife Stacey and his three
children, Haejin, Hana, and Eunhae
Daniel dedicates this book to his grandfather Jack LeFevre

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword xi
Guofang Li
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Contributions to the Textbook Analysis Literature 2
Review of the Literature 3
Textbook Adoption: Politics, Policies, and Practices 4
Stereotypes of Asian/Americans 8
Asian/American History 12
Other 14
Why It Is Worthwhile to Analyze Student Textbooks and Teacher
Manuals 16
Chapter 2: Methodology 21
Guiding Research Questions 21
Method 25
Chapter 3: Elementary Education 29
Introduction 29
Stereotyping 29
Historical Coverage 34
Folktales and Legends 39
Culture 41
Family 46
American Dream 47
Who Is Asian/American? 49
Conclusion 50
Chapter 4: Middle School 55
Introduction 55
Stereotyping 55
Historical Coverage 56
Folktales 60
Culture 61
ix