Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-19
Japanese Children in the San Fran
cisco Schools,

hitting the report or Secretary Met
calf upon the conditions which led to
the exclusion of Japanese children
from the public schools of San Fran
cisco. AS this action of the school
board Of that city has been a sub
ject of diplomatic consideration be-
tween the governments of the United
States and japan. and has had ma
tionol and international attention be-
cause of its liability to be a source of
friction and difference to two great
nations between whom there has been
a strong and steadfast friendship eX-
tending over a period Of so years, it be-
comes a matter of far more than ordi-
nary Importance. 1t will be seen that
the hoard of education of San Fran
cisco has by resolution decided to
maintain separate schools for Chinese
and Japanese pupils. This decision, it
is asserted. was reached mot only for
the purpose Of relieving the congestion
at present prevailing in our schools,
but also for the higher end that our
children should not be placed in any
position where their youthful impress
sions may be affected by associations
with pupils OF the Monaghan race"
the principals of San Francisco were
directed to send all Chinese and
japanese children to the Oriental pub
tic school. This order went into effect
on October II, at which time SO
japanese pupils were attending the
public schools of San Francisco and
were distributed among % primary
grades.
There seems to be no question but
what the Oriental school has been sup
piled with competent teachers and is
modern and up-to-datc in its methods.
The fact remains. however, that any
attempt to scgregate the Japanese
children of a city of the size of San
utterly impractical. AS a matter of
fact. Secretary Metcalf reports that he
school. Mr.. Metcalf also found very
strong sentiment against japanese
young men attending primary grades
And i'll this view of the situation the
secretary comedies. Prior to the
resolution of the San Francisco school
board. above quoted. Japanese boys
years were attending the primary
grades and sitting beside little girls
and boys or I and years of age Such
a condition Of affairs. it is needless to
say, was intolcrable American
young men of that age would not have
been permitted that privilege, and
should not have been. and there does
not seem to be any good reason why it
should have been extended to pupils of
least, that it was unwilling to permit a
continuance of this condition of af-
is amply justified and will be sus-
tanned by public sentiment everywhere
We do not think, however. that the
school authorities of that city are iusti-
fled i'll extending this rule of exclusion
to japanese children born in this coun-
try and corresponding in age to the
other pupils IN the primary grades.
Secretary Metcalf states that all the
teachers with whom he talked while in
San Francisco spoke in the highest
terms Of the japanese children, saying
that they were among the best of their
pupils. clearly in their presence, well
behaved, studious. and remarkably
bright. Such being the conceded fact.
it is the mere essence of narrowness
and bigotry to undertake to exclude
such children from the public school
privileges of San Francisco. 1t has
no basis in fairness. or reason, and is
entirely contrary to the plain rights
secured to Japan in her treaties with
this country 1t must not be sup
posed that this reprchensible position
is sustained by all the citizens Of Cali
fornia. or of San Franchises; many of
the foremost educators in that state
condemn such narrow minded and
fanatical intolerance in the most en-
phatic terms.
1t is probable that this whole ques-
ton will come up before the supreme
court of the United States, and it is
not to be supposed that the short
sighted and iIiberal policy Of the San
Francisco school authorities will be
sustained by this high tribunal. Secrc-
tor.y NatraIf was uIIite right in GA wing