YOUNG AMERICANS IN CITY SCHOOLS RESIGN POSITIONS

Large Group Educated Here Hope To Build Up Unity By Their Example

PRAISE FROM FLEMING

A group of more than a score of young American women of Japanese ancestry, who have been employed as clerks in the schools of Seattle, have tendered their resignation to the School Board.

They said they did this in the interest of national unity and to contribute to the national defense.

The resignations were tendered to S.E. Fleming acting superintendent of schools, to be transmitted to the School Board for consideration.

Letter of Resignation

Following is the letter of resignation presented to Superintendent Fleming:

"We the undersigned American citizens of Japanese ancestry have learned that our presence as employes in the Seattle School system has been protested by certain persons and organizations.

"Most all of us have received our education in the local schools, and have been proud of the fact, as we have been proud of our positions as employes.

"However, it may be deemed in the best interest of the Seattle School system that under present conditions we should no longer occupy such positions.

"Therefore, we respectfully request the Seattle School Board to accept our resignations immediately.

"We do not take this action in any spirit of defeat, but believe we can by our resignations, demonstrate beyond dispute that we have the best interest of the school system at heart. We take this step to prove our loyalty to the schools and to the United States, by not becoming a contributing factors to dissension and disunity, when national unity in spirit and deed is vitally necessary to the defense of and complete victory for America.

"We bear no ill-will toward those who have protested our employment in the school system. We feel that is their privilege.

"We only hope that the welfare of the schools will be served by our action in resigning from the positions we now occupy.

"Finally, we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the School Board, the superintendents, the principals and teachers for the kind treatment accorded us."

Supt. Fleming in Praise

S.E. Fleming, acting superintendent of the Seattle School System, issued the following statement:

"The letter of resignation of our Japanese clerks speaks for itself. I am sure that our principals and teachers would want to join me in words of highest appreciation of the courtesy, industry, efficiency and loyalty of the girls. Their statement, supported by the voluntary withdrawal from school employment, makes us feel that our good opinion and confidence have not been misplaced."

Chairman Makes Comment

James Y. Sakamoto, general chairman of the Emergency Defense Council of the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League made the following comment:

"The action taken by these young women in voluntarily stepping aside in the interest of education, and the welfare of the Seat be appreciated by the Commun- the public school system should ity and everyone else. The action will contribute greatly to harmony and national unity."