Education

Schools were quickly organized in the concentration camps, but they suffered from crude facilities and lack of teaching materials. Instruction was given for nursery through high school, and adult education was offered. Trained teachers were in short supply, however, and uncertified Japanese Americans with college degrees often filled in. The War Relocation Authority (WRA) deliberately emphasized Americanization in the education program. Some found it painfully ironic to watch incarcerated youth recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Education (782)

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Evacuation and resettlement study, structural report, section II: the first six months at Tule Lake: social changes and a chronology of events (ddr-csujad-26-4)

doc Evacuation and resettlement study, structural report, section II: the first six months at Tule Lake: social changes and a chronology of events (ddr-csujad-26-4)

Report chronicling the first six months Tule Lake camp including the establishment of community activities, employment, schools, and barracks infrastructure. Describes challenges of adjusting to life in camp often using direct quotations from incarcerees to express struggles amid social and cultural groups as well as conflicts and strikes. Several events are also described including a description ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-4/

img Two boys writing (ddr-csujad-26-92)

Two young Japanese American boys doing schoolwork write in notebooks. A chalkboard is blurred in the background. From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_029

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-92/

[Minutes of the regular meeting of the divisional responsible men and the Co-ordinating committee of the Tule Lake Center, March 10, 1944] (ddr-csujad-2-24)

doc [Minutes of the regular meeting of the divisional responsible men and the Co-ordinating committee of the Tule Lake Center, March 10, 1944] (ddr-csujad-2-24)

Meeting minutes of incarceree-led Tule Lake Camp government. Described vandalism and profanity incidents within the schools and camp clean-up and fire protection. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0024

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-24/

doc Letter to Dr. Keizaburo "Kei" Koyama from his daughter Miriam Kiyo Koyama (ddr-one-5-16)

Letter dated June 21, 1942, from Miriam Kiyo Koyama to her father Kei Koyama. She wishes him a happy Father's Day, tells him that she joined 4H, and hopes that next year they will be together for Father's Day.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-16/

img Minidoka Classmates (ddr-one-5-68)

Black and white photographic print of 11 girls standing outside a barrack at Minidoka posing for a picture. Three girls in the foreground are holding books.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-5-68/

img Adult education program (ddr-csujad-7-16)

Advertisement and schedule of courses for adult education at the Amache incarceration camp. Text in English and Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_The Adult Education Program

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-7-16/

vh Amy Iwasaki Mass Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-470-7)

Vivid memories of elementary school in camp

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-470-7/