Densho Digital Repository - Katsugo Miho Interview III (Densho ID: ddr-densho-1022-3-2)

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MN: And I was wondering, so in public school you had student government. In the Japanese language school, was there anything similar to that?

KM: No, I don't remember any kind of student government or anything like that in Japanese school. Japanese school level was basically attending classes and being part of the social activity aspect of the Japanese language schools, which played a big part. Because Japanese language school was basically only one hour in the afternoon. But the hour that you spent in Japanese school activities was more than just one hour a day or something like that.

MN: And then if you can just repeat what were the types of Japanese school activities that went beyond the classroom?

KM: There were various student school activities which the English grammar school never had. For instance, the Japanese undokai, there was nothing like that comparable on the public school level. And you had a lot of... what would you call it? Productions. The last time we talked about it, when I was in first grade, I think it was the first grade that I, the dance was a, what was a kewpie dance. Productions was very frequent and more than the English public schools. The Japanese school had more of these type of activities, social activities where the entire community participates, not the Japanese school, but the basic Kahului community.

MN: And then to what extent were your parents then involved in public school things?

KM: Our public school, the English public school? Very little participation by the parents as far as I recall, very little. Number one, they did not speak English. Throughout their lives, my parents never really learned to speak English. I don't recall how the communication level between the grammar school and my parents were, now that you think about it. But somehow, community-wise, I guess there would be a spokesman that would kind of speak on behalf of the Japanese community, Japanese students. But I don't recall any kind of at grade, grammar school level, I don't recall any kind of organized activities at public school.