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 (66)
Concentration camps (618)
Education (946)

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946 items

img High school girls reading in front of the English and Social Studies barracks (ddr-fom-1-730)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-730/

img High school students (ddr-fom-1-532)

Photograph used for a school annual.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-532/

img School portraits (ddr-fom-1-556)

Photograph used for a school annual.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-556/

img Class photo (ddr-fom-1-513)

Photograph used for a school annual.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-513/

img Class photo (ddr-fom-1-512)

Photograph used for a school annual.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-512/

img Miss Hester's kindergarten class (ddr-fom-1-732)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-732/

img Class photo (ddr-fom-1-508)

Photograph used for a school annual.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-508/

img English language class (ddr-fom-1-627)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-fom-1-627/

doc War Relocation Authority notice on evacuee requests for material from Chambers of Commerce and other local agencies (ddr-densho-381-21)

Myer addresses prejudiced responses to Japanese-American high school students' requests for statistical information about the New England area. Myer recommends that staff discourage direct correspondence between detainees and outside agencies.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-21/

doc Topaz High School graduation announcement (ddr-densho-392-77)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-77/

doc Topaz High School graduation announcement (ddr-densho-392-76)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-76/

doc Schools at the Granada Relocation Center (ddr-densho-381-42)

A paper debating if schools should be built at the Granada concentration camp.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-381-42/

doc Kenneth Iyeki's Topaz High School diploma (ddr-densho-392-54)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-54/

img High school students cleaning up outside of Topaz High School (ddr-densho-392-52)

Caption on reverse: "H.S. clean up week. / 3-5-43 # HS 36 / Billie Oshima and his crew in action on clean-up day at the Topaz High School."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-392-52/

doc Amache High School Onlooker yearbook (ddr-densho-390-151)

The 1945 (and final) edition of the Amache High School yearbook, Onlooker, belonging to Walter Matsuoka. Walter is included in the sophomore class portraits and candid shots. Sho Matsuoka is included in the football team photograph. The yearbook includes several handwritten messages and signatures.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-151/

doc Amache Senior High School commencement exercises (ddr-densho-390-7)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-7/

doc Amache Senior High School commencement program (ddr-densho-390-6)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-6/

doc Amache High School Onlooker yearbook (ddr-densho-390-150)

The 1944 edition of the Amache High School yearbook, Onlooker, belonging to Walter Matsuoka. Walter is included in the freshman class portraits. The yearbook includes several handwritten messages and signatures.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-150/

doc Walter Matsuoka's junior high school diploma (ddr-densho-390-18)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-18/

img Photo of group of children (ddr-densho-399-14)

Caption on back: "Topaz nursery schl", Shizuko Sumi (3rd row/2nd from right)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-399-14/

img Photo of children seated at tables (ddr-densho-399-17)

Caption on back: "Mrs. Sumi" (Shizuko Sumi)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-399-17/

doc Amache Senior High School commencement exercises (ddr-densho-390-8)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-8/

img Kindergarten class at Poston (ddr-densho-391-23)

Photograph of a Kindergarden class at Poston. Hatsuko Mary (Yoshioka) Higuchi is in the middle row on the far right, Etsuko Yoshioka in the front row on the far right.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-391-23/

doc Hunt High School 1943 Yearbook (ddr-densho-375-7)

Ray Kikoshima's 1943 Hunt High School yearbook. Front and back pages include many personalized notes and additional notes on individual photographs.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-375-7/

doc Set of index cards with notes about futility of education and school in camp (ddr-densho-383-607)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-607/