Most AAPI adults say schools should teach about issues related to race: Survey

As many states limit curriculum on sensitive topics around race, a survey released Wednesday found a majority of Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian (AAPI) adults believe K-12 schools should teach about these topics.

The survey from AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that more than 70 percent of AAPI adults support teaching about the history of slavery, racism and segregation in K-12 public schools.

Seventy-one percent also said schools should teach about the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States.

AAPI adults who identify as Democratic were more supportive of teaching such topics than Republicans; 81 percent of Democrats said they favor teaching about AAPI history in schools, compared to only 60 percent of Republicans.

The results were even wider when it came to teaching about slavery, racism and segregation. While 85 percent of Democrats support teaching these topics in public schools, only 50 percent of Republicans agreed.

Respondents had a greater split on teaching about sex education and sexuality.

Only 53 percent of AAPI adults supported education on sex and sexuality, with only 25 percent of Republicans supporting such education. Seventy-two percent of Democrats supported teaching about sex and sexuality in public schools.

Limitations on what can be taught in public schools has been an ongoing debate for several years.

Since January 2021, lawmakers in 44 states have introduced bills to restrict teaching critical race theory or limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism, and 18 states have imposed such bans or restrictions, according to a report by Education Week.

Those in support of limitations argue that topics such as slavery and racism are inappropriate and divisive.

Among AAPI adults, 56 percent opposed individual school boards restricting specific subjects. 

Forty-one percent said state governments have too much influence on school curriculum, and 32 percent said the same of the federal government. 

Forty-seven percent of AAPI adults said parents have too little influence on school curriculum, and 48 percent said teachers have too little influence on curriculum. 

Only 40 percent of AAPI adults rated the quality of education provided by K-12 schools positively. 

The poll of 1,068 U.S. adults who are Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders was conducted April 8-17, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based Amplify AAPI Panel, designed to be representative of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander population. The margin of error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.