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A Learning Narrative: Japanese American Internment Camp Survivors as a Teaching Tool in Geography
Abstract:
<p>Studies have shown the effectiveness of storytelling and narratives in education (Glaser, Garsoffky, and Schwan, 2009). Often, students will understand concepts and events better when presented as a narrative, especially when told by people who are participants in these events. This occurs for several reasons, including the development of a greater focus by the student and by building a personal connection to the narrator (Nathanson, 2006).</p><p>Starting in 2017, I began leading field trips to the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial on Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Island is the first location where the federal government forcibly removed Japanese Americans and imprisoned them in “internment camps” after the Pearl Harbor attack. Two survivors of from Bainbridge have been telling their stories to my students, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and impressive.</p><p>Memorial wall carved images and stories relate the stories of Japanese Americans. These tales are interspersed with the narrative of the survivors who also act out events from the exodus. Throughout these narratives the oppression endured is explored and students consider the threats to civil rights, government overreach, and abuse of power. One positive was the overwhelming support given by neighbors on Bainbridge Island, including the local newspaper owners: Walt and Milly Woodward. For these reasons, Bainbridge Island is unique among most west coast locations where Japanese Americans were not welcomed back to their homes and in essence, suffered a second forced relocation.</p>
Keywords: Narrative Learning, Field Trips, Japanese American Internment
Authors:
Bruce M Hall, Olympic College; Submitting Author / Primary Presenter
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A Learning Narrative: Japanese American Internment Camp Survivors as a Teaching Tool in Geography
Category
In-Person Paper Abstract