<Begin Segment 7>

TI: And you said you went to Bailey Gatzert for elementary school.

JS: I did. Through the first through the eighth grade.

TI: That's a pretty long walk --

JS: It was.

TI: -- or trek from your place to Bailey Gatzert.

JS: It was, although my folks wanted us to go to Japanese language school, which was close to, to Bailey Gatzert. No matter where you went to grade school, if you had, if you went to Japanese school or Japanese language school -- we used to call it Tip School -- you'd have to go the same distance anyway.

TI: So in the morning, how would you go from your place to Bailey Gatzert?

JS: Well, generally we walked.

TI: That, that's several miles.

JS: Yes. It's at least a couple miles. But we got used to it.

TI: And so you would, you would go with your brothers and sisters to Bailey Gatzert, you four together?

JS: Yes, uh-huh.

TI: And then from there, after school, you'd go to the Japanese language school.

JS: That's right.

TI: And then after Japanese language school you would then walk...

JS: Then walked home, yeah.

TI: So it was a pretty long day for you during school.

JS: Well, yes, it was.

TI: So you mentioned earlier that you were perhaps not the best student.

JS: No, in fact, I was, I might mention that the Nisei kids were very good students, and so among the Niseis, I would rank in the, certainly the lower half as a student. And in fact, in, when we, when I graduated from Bailey Gatzert, that's the eighth grade, my folks wanted me to take a college prep course in high school, but the teacher shook her head and said, "I don't think so. You should go for the manual arts." [Laughs] But my father insisted that we take the college prep courses.

TI: 'Cause he still had this dream that you would all go to college.

JS: Yeah.

TI: In, when you think of Bailey Gatzert, so you were there for, for quite a few years.

JS: Yes.

TI: Any teachers come to mind in terms of being influential?

JS: Well, the principal was an outstanding lady -- and Ms. Mahon -- and most of the Niseis, at least of my vintage, will remember her. She was very good to the Japanese American kids, and she was almost like a mother to them.

TI: And what would be an example of her being good to the Japanese Americans? Can you remember, like, an incident, an example of what she would do?

JS: Oh, she was very stern, and if you were called to the principal's office, of course, you were pretty naughty. But she was always understanding, but if you deserved a slap on the wrist, she'd give it to you.

TI: So did you ever, were you ever reprimanded by...

JS: Oh, yes.

TI: So, so what type of things would to you do to be sent to the principal's office?

JS: Well, I don't recall now, but I've been told, and reminded by some of my classmates that I was pretty naughty. So I don't know what I did, but certainly enough to be sent to the principal's office.

TI: Do you ever remember any conversations you had with the principal and what she, she told you?

JS: Yes. She was, as I say, as I said earlier, she was a disciplinarian, and she would impress upon me that the other students of Japanese Americans were always pretty good, and "Why are you this way?" But anyway, but she would, in a motherly way, give you a hug, and I remember her fondly.

TI: So what would you think when, when people would tell you things like, "The other Niseis, they're such good students, they're well-behaved, and so why can't you be more like that?" What would you think?

JS: Well, I don't recall what I thought in those days, but, well, you felt ashamed, of course, and then you wondered to yourself, "Why can't I do better?" But some are bright students, some are not. [Laughs]

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.