Student urges board to include South Asian women’s history in world-history textbooks

Saibi Sodi, a junior at Fairmont Preparatory Academy, used the public-comment period to ask the board to review how South Asian history—and specifically the roles of women—appears in the district’s world-history curriculum and in the new textbooks under consideration.

“My name is Saibi Sodi, and I'm a junior at Fairmont Preparatory Academy,” she told trustees, then described feeling that South Asian women’s leadership is omitted from classroom materials: “We teach Joan of Arc in European history, but not Usha Mehta,” she said, noting that learning about women shaped her values and should not be left to chance.

Sodi asked the board to commit to a review of how South Asian history, and the role of women within it, is taught across middle and high school courses before the new textbooks are approved. Trustees acknowledged the comment during the meeting and staff later noted the agenda included text-adoption items, signaling a staff follow-up to curriculum stakeholders.

The student also described creating educational content outside school, including a YouTube channel and research collaboration, and connected the request to broader district LCAP priorities about inclusion and student voice.