Help Save the Asian Studies Course at Pine-Richland High-School

You should help support this petition because Asian Studies is the only class, other than Western Civilizations and AP European History, that Pine-Richland High-School offers to students in the global area of study. It is mandatory for students to take 2 years of an American History course, but it is not mandatory for students to take classes, such as Global Affairs, Global Civics, Human Geography, International Relations, Multicultural Experience, World Affairs, World Civilizations, World Cultures, World Geography or World History at our school. These are only a select few courses that are offered in surrounding area school districts, including: Avonworth, Beaver, Bethel Park, Butler, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Mars, Mount Lebanon, North Allegheny, North Hills, Quaker Valley, Seneca, and Upper St. Clair. If this class is cut, this area of study will be completely eliminated from our school's curriculum for the 2014-2015 school year. If you support this petition; however, you will help us be more culturally aware and you will help our students have a better understanding about countries other than the United States.

I started this petition because I understand the importance of interacting with and being tolerant of people who come from various ethnicities and cultures. I believe that in order for students to have the best and most complete education, they must be able, or be required, to take at least one course about an area outside of the United States, such as Asia, at some point in their high-school career. In order to educate students on the importance of being globally aware and tolerant of other cultures and nations, it is necessary for students to be able to take courses on these topics. If students do not have these opportunities, it is virtually impossible for them to be able to be well-rounded and active global citizens. We are living in an ever-changing world and we are facing political, economic, social, and religious issues with other nations on a daily basis. The time to act and make a difference is now, but this cannot be done if classes, such as Asian Studies, are removed from our school's Program of Studies.

This class would make a difference in that future students would learn about the benefits of understanding Asian cultures, languages, and geography. Due to a small, yet prominent, Asian-American community in western Pennsylvania, it is fair to say that our students should have the opportunity to learn about their Asian ancestry, their love for learning about other cultures, or perhaps their interest in the history of a continent that plays a huge role in the world economy and the world stage. If you could take a moment to sign this petition, you would not only allow for our students to understand the importance of being open-minded and globally aware, but you would also impact our community for many generations to come.

As stated by Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”