Topaz Oral History Project research files: Published articles (1920s-1980s)

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More than anything, I think it quite unthinking of Japanese language school instructors to use textbooks that were, at one time, prohibited by California law, even if the law has now been repealed. An action can be wrong with or without the law. I understand that Mr. Cohn of the State Board of Education, as an educator responsible for the future of the Japanese, is very much concerned over the recent developments in the Japanese language schools. 15 As in the case of textbooks, the problem of appropriateness exists in the area of Japanese language school policy. Morning sessions in the Japanese language schools before the public school session had previously been prohibited. Since that law has been rescinded, some of these morning sessions have once more resumed. Also, there is a kind of Japanese nationalism that is being advanced under the rubric of "National Education" in order to appeal to the parents. The History of Japanese is also be1ng regularly included as a topic in the curriculum. Moreover, where patience and prudence had once prevailed in order to maintain harmony with other people in the community, we notice that now Japanese communities all over are making feverish efforts to establish Japanese language schools, just as if they have contracted some kind of contagious disease. They are even hiring teachers who are not familiar with essential facts pertaining to the United States--this, probably. because they are available at a lower salary. We should all be concerned about this state of affairs. If they continue to prevail, all of the things we have attained through endurance and patience may go to waste. One's long struggle can fail to come to fruition by grudging a little effort and making a careless error at the last stage. Anyone can bear the bearable, but to bear what seems unbearable is the real test. (8/7/28)