Principal Dr. John W. Harbenson's address to PJC's students
PJC and The War
War has been declared upon the United States by the dictators
of the Axis Powers. In the emergency the Pasadena Junior College
places loyalty and defense of country above any other portion
of its program. Students and faculty alike stand ready to make
any sacrifices the situation may require and to serve in whatever
capacities they are called upon to insure a just and lasting peace
for the cause of freedom.
For the time being at least, students can probably render their
best services to the country by remaining in college, attending
classes regularly, and doing the work well. All of us should avoid
yielding to excitement or hysteria, but we should recognize soberly
the gravity of the situation and place service to country above
everything else. When the emergency requires the service of students
in the military or naval establishments the Government will not
hesitate to call upon their services. Students, as well as faculty,
should affiliate with whatever municipal protection organizations
are able to use their services, but, in my judgment, it would
be wise for students to continue calmly in the pursuance of their
educational courses until such time as the Government sees fit
to call.
It is gratifying to all of us in this critical time to note the
loyalty of Japanese students to the American cause. These young
people are citizens of the United States, and they have publicly
and privately on all occasions declared their exclusive loyalty
and devotion to the United States of America as their native land.
All of us in the course of our ancestry were at some time immigrants
from foreign countries. Large numbers are of German and Italian
extraction; others are of English, French and still other extractions;
still others trace their ancestry back to Japan, but all of us,
regardless of the land to which we trace our ancestry, are now
loyal Americans united In the defense of our country. In this
cause the Japanese students are no exception. It is for this reason
that those of us in Pasadena Junior College who are descendants
of other races honor and respect our fellow citizens of Japanese
ancestry.
Recently I came into possession of a letter, which is placed
into the hands of every young Japanese soldier enlisting in the
United States Army. The sincerity and loyalty to country expressed
by the mothers of these young Japanese soldiers have .so Profoundly
impressed me personally that I am passing it on to each of you.
The letter from the Japanese mothers is as follows:
"We voice the hopes of all mothers when we say that, above
all, we want you to make yourselves the type of soldiers in whom
America may take great pride.
"The quality of loyalty is one which your race can share
equally with all Americans in the making of a greater America.
"Because the very arms you bear may be turned against 'the
country of your ancestry is all the more reason why you should
sharpen the quality with every ounce of your determination.
"You can best preserve the heritage that is yours by proving
in action your love for your country.
"To keep mentally alert, physically sound, morally straight
are the goals worthy of every son who enters the Selective Service.
"Keep fit. Keep clean. And when you return, by the Grace
of God, to your homes and families, may the reflection of what
you have gained from your service and experience command the,
respect and admiration of all.
"Hasten forth and know that we who keep the homefires, burning
are with you in spirit, happy that our sons are sharing in the
grave responsibility of keeping alive the torch -which symbolizes
the American way of life we have come to know as our own.
What a monumental testimony to the loyalty and devotion of our
fellow Japanese-American citizens!
Mr. Rufus Mead, Associate Principal, is chairman of a student
faculty committee working out procedures to be followed by faculty
and students in case of an air raid or other emergency. Instructions
will be given in due course of time by Mr. Mead and his committee
regarding these procedures. Let all of us cooperate by carrying
out to the letter whatever responsibilities, and instructions
may be assigned to us.
JOHN W. HARBESON,
Principal
December 11, 1941
from the Pasadena Chronicle, March 27, 1942
A recent letter was sent to the PJC faculty by Dr. John Harbeson,
principal, for the purpose of deciding what to do about the grades
of those Japanese students who will be evacuated within the next
few weeks. A check on the returns shows that 95 per cent of the
faculty are In favor of some plan to complete the course and credit
the student with units and grades.
Each Instructor is free to arrange with his or her Japanese students
the method of completion of the course. An examination may be given
immediately before their departure on the work covered to date,
and assignments for the remainder of the school year made out.
