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)
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Education (1448)

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1448 items

img King of Hunt High School (ddr-densho-37-3)

Original WRA caption: King of Hunt High School May Day festival being crowned by Richard A. Pomeroy, Supt. of Education, is shown with his attendants. The court was chosen by popular vote in a contest sponsored by the student body. Left to right: Prince Victor Fujioka, princess Dorothy Sugawara, Mr. Pomeroy, King Johnny Okamoto, Princess Sue …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-3/

img High school class (ddr-densho-37-511)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. Leo W. Kraus instructing high school class in properties of wood.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-511/

img Sleeping nursery school children (ddr-densho-37-369)

Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. Nursery school children taking a midafternoon nap. Note the piles of shoes placed at the head of each bed.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-369/

img Schoolchildren landscaping in front of school building (ddr-densho-37-515)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. View showing Elementary children landscaping the grounds in front of their barracks school.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-515/

img High school band members (ddr-densho-37-539)

Original WRA caption: Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas. A snare drum section of the high school band, in a practice session at the school band room. Most of the student band members are playing instuments for the first time, and the band is fast becoming a matter of much pride among center residents, former west coast …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-539/

img Home economics class (ddr-densho-37-39)

Original WRA caption: Students in the high school home economics class.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-39/

img High school graduation (ddr-densho-37-33)

Original WRA caption: Students of the Hunt High School dress in caps and gowns for Commencement exercises.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-33/

img Nursery school students (ddr-densho-37-165)

Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. Nursery school children singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-165/

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.

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

doc Pre-School Education in Manzanar Report (ddr-densho-402-6)

Description of preschool education in Manzanar including school housing, schedule, routine, parent organizations, teachers, and advantages.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-402-6/

doc Pre-School Education Report (ddr-densho-402-5)

This report on preschool education in Manzanar documents and appraises the nursery-kindergarten program. Contents include Preface; Introduction; Pre-School Staff; Organization of the Pre-School Program; The School Plant; A Day in the Pre-School; the Health Program in the Pre-Schools; Training of Pre-School Teachers; Parent Relationship Program; and the Pre-Schools in the Community.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-402-5/

doc Advice of Personnel Action (ddr-densho-402-4)

This document is about Marie A. Prichett's appointment as secondary school teacher at Manzanar in 1944.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-402-4/

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

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

https://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)

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

doc Title: Where do we go from here? (ddr-densho-408-9)

Address to 1945 Graduating class of Hunt High School at Minidoka

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-408-9/

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

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

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

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.

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

doc Gila River Yearbook, "Year's Flight" (ddr-densho-382-20)

Butte High School 1943 Yearbook. Butte High School was the high school at Gila River.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-382-20/

doc Desert Sentinel, vol. 1, no. 8 (ddr-densho-382-17)

Newsletter from Gila River camp, published by the Journalism Class of Rivers High. Selected articles: "Student Council Install Officers" (p. 1); "Editorial Misconduct-Unnecessary" (p. 2); "Eagles Tie for Champs" (p. 4)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-382-17/

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

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

doc Letter to Tamako Inouye from A.F. Carpenter, Department of Mathematics, University of Washington (ddr-densho-383-534)

Instructing Tamako what she needed to complete a course in mathematics begun earlier

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-534/

doc Memo to Tamako Inouye about completing her graduation requirements for a B.A. at the University of Washington (ddr-densho-383-539)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-539/

doc Amache Elementary School Handbook (ddr-densho-356-813)

Amache Elementary School Handbook that lists faculty members, school curriculum and layout.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-813/

doc Nursery School list (ddr-densho-356-871)

List of nursery school aged children, their address and head of household. Paper clipped together with ddr-densho-356-870 through 872.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-871/

doc Memo regarding ending public assistance grants to ministers (ddr-densho-356-918)

Memo from John J. O. Moore to caseworkers to inform them of the reason to end public assistance grants to ministers, and scrutinize visit requests and grants for unemployment due to enrollment in Japanese Language School.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-918/