arrow People at the Stop Asian Hate rally on March 21, 2021 Arun Venugopal / WNYC Amid a surge in hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans, New York students, parents, and lawmakers want schools to combat intolerance through education, with an infusion of Asian-American history and culture they say has been glaringly absent so far. This week, thousands of parents sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter calling on the education department to ensure lessons across the school system are more inclusive of Asian American experiences and contributions. They also want officials to make Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month part of the school calendar with activities to match, and provide students with tools to confront racism in their communities.