The assimilation of the Japanese in and around Stockton

The problem of\u27 the Japanese in California has been prominent since the opening of the twentieth century. Much has been written in an attempt to help solve the problem. Yet the general trends of the writings prior to the Johnson Immigration Law of 1924 were to deal with the Japanese just coming into California rather than with those who were born here or had established permanent residence. Yet after the Immigration Law went into effect the problem of preventing undesirable Japanese from entering California became extinct. The problem no longer centers around exclusion but rather around inclusion . In short the problem has changed from immigration to Americanization and assimilation. The Japanese who were born in California or any other part or the United States are as truly American citizens as anyone and are entitled Lo share the full benefits of government. But in the true sense of the word if they are to be and remain good citizens, they must not only be acquainted with the American Government but with American customs, American ideals, and with the American language . In short, the Japanese must be in a certain sense assimilated. The purpose of this study is to find out if the younger generation of Japanese are really becoming assimilated, which in turn will largely determine the kind of citizens they will be when grown. I have chosen the school primarily as a laboratory for this study with the home and the church closely allied