The text we examined this week for our weekly readings is Kaozong N. Mouavangsou’s “Hmong Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation Of Hmong Americans”. This text examined the US education system and the affect it has on the Hmong American student’, how non Hmong scholars have been spreading a false Hmong history, and an examination of six hmong families and the conclusion of those finding’. This text also highlighted how the US education system has in a sense failed at teaching ethnic studies.
This text claims that the education system has been set up in a way to teach minorities about their own culture through the lense of a third party. This initially sparked a lot of emotion in me as I felt it is unreal that when we are taught a lot of Ethnic studies, that it is through the lense of the European/ American scope, which is history from a one-sided biased view. Another key theme Mouavangsou’ touches on that resonated with me is the idea that the American education system in a sense puts down other cultures. This is very apparent when she tells the audience about how when she was in school her teachers would not talk about the Hmong very much, and when they did they would talk about the Hmong as if they were not the most developed. Her teacher claimed the Hmong didn’t have their own language nor their own homeland, they were highly underdeveloped, and this gave the United States a sense of superiority over the Hmong people or even other minorities in the eyes of the students. This is very offense to anyone who is of Hmong descent as the Hmong sacrificed so much for the United States from fighting the Secret War for the US, to leaving their place of living for the US in hopes of a better life. This is a huge issue in our education system as it gives others a false sense of Hmong history, and it creates an identity issue for Hmong American students learning about their heritage from someone who knows nothing of Hmong culture/tradition. A prime example of this is when the author of this text returned to Washington D.C. after realizing she had been a spoon-fed lies about her culture growing up in school. All of the American national monuments made her feel even more alienated from the country she lived in, especially not seeing any Hmong recognition on the Vietnam memorial resonated with her. She felt betrayed. Overall the U.S. education system is set up in a way so that it is harder for the Hmong or other minorities to obtain a well rounded education. The curriculum taught in school is very biased, and children are usually taught a swaying one sided perspective on a lot of historical events, and even current events. A reform of our current school curriculum is going to be needed if we are going to move towards teaching a more accurate Asian history in our Social Sciences.
It won't be in our history. The good 'ol US of A has one sided history books that teach ignorance and bigotry. Not to mention the majority of teachers that don't bother to truly educate. (n.d.). Retrieved October 08, 2017, from http://whisper.sh/whisper/0540b27ba7e0b1eb6d2fe77c45d16a7dd06060/It-wont-be-in-our-history-The-good-ol-US-of-A-has-one-sided-history
My one question I have from this week’ reading is back when the Hmong people lived in Southeast asia if they were able to speak Mien as I have been told they were very close in villages from my family.
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