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.
World War II
(231)
Concentration camps
(1434)
Education
(1448)
1448 items
1448 items
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Japanese Americans taking English language class (ddr-densho-151-406)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Part of a class under the Adult Education Program at this War Relocation Authority center. It is composed of Issei and Kibei evacuees who are studying the Ideals of American Citizenship and the English language with which they are unfamiliar. There are 18 such classes, each averaging 20 volunteer …
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Students studying in shade (ddr-densho-151-365)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. An elementary school with voluntary attendance has been established with volunteer evacuee teachers, most of whom are college graduates. No school equipment is as yet obtainable and available tables and benches are used. However, classes are often held in the shade of the barrack building.
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Students studying in shade (ddr-densho-151-362)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Young sixth-grade students studying their lessons in the shade of the barracks at this first voluntary elementary school.
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Elementary school class (ddr-densho-151-361)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. These young evacuees are attending the first elementary school at this War Relocation Authority center. There are six grades with volunteer teachers and voluntary attendance.
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Students studying in shade (ddr-densho-151-364)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. An elementary school has been established with evacuee volunteer teachers, most of whom are college graduates. Attendance at this time is voluntary. No school equipment is as yet available and classes are also held outside the barrack building in the shade.
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Students studying in shade (ddr-densho-151-363)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. An elementary school has been established with volunteer evacuee teachers, most of whom are college graduates. Attendance at this time is voluntary. No school equipment is as yet available and available tables and benches are used. Classes are often held outside in the shade of the barrack building.
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Japanese Americans studying in classroom (ddr-densho-151-367)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. An elementary school with voluntary attendance has been established with volunteer evacuee teachers, most of whom are college graduates. No school equipment is as yet obtainable and available tables and benches are used.
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Students in temporary classroom (ddr-densho-151-366)
Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. An elementary school with voluntary attendance has been established with volunteer evacuee teachers, most of whom are college graduates. No school equipment is as yet obtainable and available tables and benches are used. However, classes are often held in the shade of the barrack building at this War Relocation …
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Second Year at Gila (ddr-densho-469-9)
A summary of the second year spent by camp inmates at the Gila River Relocation Center. Topics on the second year of the camp include the camp's administration, involvement in the war, predominant religions, schools, agriculture, recreation, and population, ending with a timeline of events.
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High school recess (ddr-densho-93-40)
Original Ansel Adams caption: High school recess period, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Education Week sign (ddr-densho-93-52)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Education week sign / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Fashion design class (ddr-densho-93-32)
Original Ansel Adams caption: Mrs. Ryie Yoshizawa, teacher, fashion designing class, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Schoolchildren (ddr-densho-93-46)
Original Ansel Adams caption: School children, Manzanar Relocation Center, California / photograph by Ansel Adams.
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Toshio Oku photo album (ddr-csujad-3-22)
Photo album is a collection of landscape and panoramic photos of Tule Lake incarceration camp, holiday greeting cards, photos of a fire, graduation portrait of Toshio Oku, group photo of the Electrical Department, and inside the print shop of the Newell Star. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_023
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Toshio Oku graduation photo (ddr-csujad-3-8)
Portrait of Toshio Oku in what appears to be high school graduation cap and gown taken at Tule Lake. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tos_01_001_008
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Kindergarten school certificate (ddr-densho-34-132)
As the opportunity arose for families to leave camp, the WRA issued certificates for the most recently completed grade to send to students' future schools. This certificate belonging to Frank Kitamoto was issued by the Stafford School at Minidoka concentration camp
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Report card (ddr-densho-34-140)
The project school at the Minidoka concentration camp issued this report card to Frank Kitamoto for the school year 1944-45. He was in kindergarten.
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Annual summary report from nursery school (ddr-densho-34-135)
The nursery school at Minidoka concentration camp issued annual summary reports for its students. This report is for Y. (Frank) Kitamoto.
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Large group photo, with Heart Mountain in background (ddr-densho-464-95)
Inscription on front: Heart Mt embroidery class / 1944 / teacher Mr. Nagahama
