Wherever I Go, I Will Always Be a Loyal American

Seattle's Japanese American Schoolchildren During World War II

Yoon Pak

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2001
• eBook ISBN: 9781136743542
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

Wherever I Go I'll Always Be a Loyal American is the story of how the Seattle public schools responded to the news of its Japanese American (Nisei) students' internment upon the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 14, 1942. Drawing upon previously untapped letters and compositions written by the students t

MAKING SENSE OF DISSONANCE: STUDENTS' RESPONSE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066

President Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066 marked all Japanese residents and Japanese Americans as targets of hatred. While growing up not having to think explicitly about how race shaped their lives, Nisei were suddenly thrust into a situation where their racial identity became a major determining factor for exclusion. Within a few months' time, their schools, homes, and all their belongings had to be abandoned for a tenuous life behind barbed wire. This disjunction in their home and school life created a dissonance with which these students were forced to grapple. The internalized grief Nisei students had to bear was slightly relieved by the opportunity for some to express their thoughts in writing. Their pithy phrases, transcribed in exact form to the original, allude to their unswerving loyalty to the government and to their rights as citizens in a democracy. On a deeper level are the concerns raised by Nisei at the thought of having to leave their home—the place of their birth and the place where they made friends in their neighborhood schools.

Mar. 25, 42

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am sorry we are leaving because I have first became acquainted with this school. I will always remember this school and teachers as one of the best.

Sincerely,

Mary

March 29, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

We are leaving our city, to where I am going I am wholly ignorant. However I am not unhappy, nor do I have objections for as long as this evacuation is for the benefit of the United State. But I do am regreting about leaving this school and the thought that I shall not see for a long while pains me extremely. Your pleasant ways of teaching had made my heart yearn for the days when I was in your classroom. Your kind smile and your wonderful work you did for me shall be one of my pleasant memories.

Tooru (8B4)

Mar. 25, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

Because of this war, we are asked to leave this city of Seattle. I am sure I will miss my teachers and Mr. Sears. There was never a school like Washington, and I will sure miss it. I will miss you very much. You have been very kind and patient throughout my years.

Sincerely Yours,

Masaharu (7A1)

Mar. 20,

1942 Dear Miss Evanson,

I well start out my letter by writing about the worst thing, I do not want to go away but the goverment says we all have to go so we have to mind him. It said in the Japanese paper that we have to go east of the cascade mt. but we were planning to go to Idaho or Montana.

Now that the war is going on many Japanese men, women, and girls are out of jobs. And a lot of my friends fater are in consentration camp. If I go there I hope I well have a teacher just like you. And rather more I hope the war well be strighten out very soon so that I would be able to attend Washington school.

Sincerely Yours

Sadako (7B1)

March 31, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am sorry we have to leave. Just when I was going to graduate Washington School. I'm glad that I had you in the 7B & A & 8B. I hope we do not have to go. Where ever I am going I wish I have a teacher like you. I enjoyed being in your room very much. When I go away I will always think about the wonderful time I had in Washington School. In so many month I wish the war will be over. I will always remember you.

Your pupil,

Martha (8A1)

4/2/41

Dear Miss Evanson,

I'm very sorry to leave Seattle. I shall miss all my friends. I enjoyed being in your room in the 7B4. I shall miss you and all the rest.

With Love,

Kazuko (8B5)

Mar. 25, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I feel very said beacuse I have to leave such a nice school and all the helpful teachers especially you. I have been interested in history about Gods and Goddesses. When I first started to learn and read about them it seemed interesting and began to like it.

When I first started school I was about 5 (five) years of age. I haven't stayed once, took a double in fourth grade, and haven't took me since. I am eleven now and am going to be twelve this year on May ? (so and so). I hope to come back to Seattle after this awful war.

A pupil,

Reiko (7B3)

4/3/42

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am very lonely without your face smiling before us. I miss you very much but I hope to come back soon.

Your former pupil,

Katsuko

March 25, 194[2]

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am sorry that we will all be leaving the Washington School, but even though we are I will think about the ways we have been taught. I appreciated the way you and the teachers have been working with us.

Sincerely,

Yeoko (7B3)

Mar. 25 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am very sorry I will have to leave Washington School so soon. As long as I am here I will try in some way to appreciate what you've taught me.

We all hope we will win this war (not the Japs) and come back to Seattle for more education.

Sincerely Yours,

James

7B3 Washington School

Dear Miss Evanson

My heart is so sad to have to leave this school and all the helpful teachers I had, one of whom I liked the best, Miss Evanson. I hope I may come sometime soon to visit the “Dear Old Washington School.”

Sincerely,

Aido

7B4-8A6

Mar. 19, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am writing to you today because I am expecting to move away with in very short time. As you always know the Japanese people has been asked by our goverment to evacuate. I do not know yet where we will go. I hope there will be some good school in which I can continual, my school work. I am very sorry to leave Seattle and Washington School. And most especially to lose you for my teacher. I am hoping the war trouble will be soon over and I could come back to Seattle and be in your school and have you for my teacher again.

Sincerely yours,

Chiyoko (7B1)

March 25, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am awfully sorry I am leaving, just when I was getting aquinted with the children and work. I would like all of you to write to me. This has been and will be always my favorite school.

For Get Me Not.

Sincerely,

Mary (7B1)

March 20, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am very sorry that I will soon be leaving Washington School and the teachers I have. As you know we have been asked to evacuate. My parents still haven't decided where to go. Where I am going I hope there will be a school like Washington School. I also hope to have a good teacher like you. I don't want to leave Seattle because I have been in Seattle from the time I was a little baby. I hate to lose you for my teacher and Mr. Sears as my principal. I know I am going to miss everybody. I am hoping the trouble will be over soon so we will not have to evacuate.

Sincerely,

Yurido (7B1)

Dear Miss Evanson:

Since we must leave Seattle and move to the east¹ I won't forget Washington School and its patient teachers and principal. I was born in Seattle and I wish it not to perish with bombs and bullets. And if Freedom and Liberty should fall it should grow again.

Don't forget, Buy United States Saving Stamps and bonds!

Sincerely Yours,

Tokunari

Dear Miss Evanson,

I have missed seeing your smiling face and I will miss you more, after all of us are gone. I enjoyed being in your class a year ago.

With love,

Hisako

April 3, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I cannot express the way I enjoyed being one of your formal pupils. I am sorry because I have to leave Washington School and miss you and Mr. Sears and all the teachers. I like to write to my favorite teacher but the time is getting short and I must close this letter.

Respectfully yours,

Kazuo

March 24, 42

Dear Miss Evanson,

Because of this situation, we are asked to leave this dear city of Seattle and its surroundings. I am sure I will miss my teachers and Mr. Sears. There was never a school like Washington School and I sure will miss it. As for me, the one I will miss most will be you. You have been very patient and kind throughout my work. If the school I will attend next would have a teacher like you I will be only too glad. When I am on my way my memories will flow back to the time I was attending this school and the assemblies which were held in the hall.

Wherever I go I will be a loyal American

Love,

Emiko (7B1)

April 17, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

It makes me sad to write in this book for it will mean departure.

I hate to be leaving Seattle, for I'll not see my friends, nor my school but there is nothing I (we) or anyone can do about it.

I have enjoyed being a pupil of yours very much.

Sincerely,

Ai (8A5)

Mar. 25, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

When the time come for the Japanses people to move out of Seattle it will be hard to go because I was born here. But I will not forget the teacher of my old school and Washington School because they are so kind and I learn many things from them. I wish I can find some teacher that was as nice as you teachers was.

I am a American.

Sincerely Yours,

Haruo (7B1)

Mar. 24, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson,

I am very said we are leaving Washington School with all it's helpful teachers. I will always think of the happy times we had. I hope we have a good school and a teacher like you wherever we go. Whenever I think of Seattle I will think of you and all the teachers.

Sincerely yours,

Kazuko (7B3)

Mar. 23, 1942

Dear Miss Evanson

I am sorry we have to evacuate because I will miss my studies, teacher's, friend's and our principal, Mr. Sears.

Maybe it is better for us to go and do what the government says. I hope there is a scho...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• CONTENTS
• PREFACE
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• DEFINITION OF TERMS
• INTRODUCTION
• 1. MAKING SENSE OF DISSONANCE
• 2. SETTING THE STAGE
• 3. LOOKING BACKWARD
• 4. AMERICANIZATION BROADENED
• 5. TENUOUS CITIZENSHIP
• 6. DISSONANCE EMBODIED
• CONCLUSION
• A NOTE ON METHOD AND SOURCES
• APPENDIX: CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS AFFECTING JAPANESE AMERICANS NATIONALLY FROM DECEMBER 7, 1941, TO JUNE 7, 1942 161
• NOTES
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX