Mistakes on Ted Tanouye Memorial at Torrance High School

 

I have known about this memorial for many years. I've had a chance to visit from time to time, and finally, I had a chance to address a more pertinent issue. 3 years ago, I asked one of the Torrance city council members to fix a spelling error on the memorial. 3 years later, nothing has happened. Instead, there was a lot of drama and discussion about renaming a park or expanding the current memorial in front of Torrance High School. Before expanding on the memory of our hometown hero, Medal of Honor winner, we need to ensure that the current memorial properly represents him. I think it's pretty embarrassing that there's a spelling error, "seperate", on the bottom line of the first plaque. Also, I researched the statistic on the first panel, which states that 110,000 Japanese Americans were interned. The more accurate number is 125,000. If the Ted Tanouye Memorial Foundation, which helped create the plaque and the memorial, was holding off on repair because of the extensive time and cost, over one mistake, then also correcting the proper numbers of interned Americans should all the more justify redoing the plaque in its entirety.

For the record, I have submitted the following statement and request to the Torrance City Council:

Torrance City Council and Go For Broke Foundation:

I am grateful for the ongoing discussion in the city of Torrance regarding proper commemoration for our Hometown Medal of Honor recipient Ted "Tak" Tanouye.

However, I am displeased with the drama regarding whether we should rename a park or refurbish and expand the current memorial in front of Torrance High School.

Instead of expanding, how about improving the current memorial?

There are two errors on the Ted Tanouye Memorial in front of Torrance High School, which should be addressed as soon as possible.

1. The word "separate" is spelled wrong (seperate) in the last line of the first plaque (see attached photo)
2. The plaque reads that 110,000 Japanese Americans were interned during WWII. More accurate estimates have concluded that 125,000 Japanese Americans were interned.

Here's data regarding more accurate figures:

https://densho.org/catalyst/how-many-japanese-americans-were-incarcerated-during-wwii/

https://www.archives.gov/research/aapi/ww2/incarceration

https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/names-of-japanese-americans-forcibly-imprisoned/

Because of the fixed nature of memorials, I understand that the memorialists may have hoped to delay repair. It would be inartful to chisel out one word and correct it.

However, with the more accurate information about the number of victims of Executive Order 9066, a full restoration of the plaques could be justified, since TWO mistakes would be corrected.

I do stress that the spelling error should be fixed, above all. It's embarrassing, considering that the site is right across from a high school!

What steps will the city take to repair the spelling error, at the very least?

I must add another disappointment, because I shared my concern about the spelling error with Councilman Kaji three years ago, and nothing has been done. All the discussion about renaming sites should have been delayed until the errors had been fixed on the current memorial outside of Torrance High School.

Please respond.

CORRECTION:

Gail Morgan, a Torrance resident and very committed community leader, has provided me with the following information when I asked for the key party responsible for the Ted Tanouye Memorial:

TED TANOUYE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION Do not bother Go For Broke.

Here's further reporting to affirm the proper authorities on the memorial.

I have still asked the city to offer assistance. If the Foundation rejects that offer, that is their choice to make.

Mr. Welch Fails Again: Flunked Student Because Her Family Was Conservative?

I am aware that teachers have their ideological bents, one way or another. That's their business.

And that's the point: it must remain their business, and not the classroom's business. Students should not be brought into the ideological fights. They should be free to learn, to think, to inquire, to take on the necessary skills to succeed in life.

But Mr. Welch doesn't seem to agree with that mindset.

He's a determined, liberal partisan, and he even took it as as badge of honor that I exposed him:

Truly honored to be singled out as a “bad teacher” by a local reactionary blogger.

— Mr. Welch (@mister_welch) September 6, 2021

Well, it appears that it's Mr. Welch who is truly reactionary.

Here's another testimony from a student:

Hi Arthur,

My daughter during Covid school shutdown had Mr. Welch for her senior year of highschool. Mr. Welch flunked her for her first semester and was forced to drop his class or she wouldn’t graduate. We believe that it was due to him somehow finding out that we were a Republican family. A lot of times teachers from Bert Lynn and West high make the kids do assignments that try to find out whether they’re students come from Republican or Democratic family backgrounds.

I remember a teacher both my girls had at Bert Lynn named Mrs. Irwin, the history teacher. Every school year at the beginning she would have her students interview 5 people on political issues. Many kids naturally choose their parents because it takes time for kids to find 5 people to interview when everyone’s schedules are just so busy especially when kids do sports! I made sure my 3rd child/ son never took Mrs. Irwin and moved him [to] Jefferson middle school. Jefferson was a great school and the staff was extremely warm and welcoming compared to Bert Lynn which had a very cold vibe. Many of the teachers at Bert Lynn I heard don’t even get along.

Please let me know what you’ve heard about Mr. Welch. I heard another student telling another teacher that Mr. Welch is so paranoid about getting the coronavirus that he is lecturing at his doorway entrance and when he speaks he faces the right and not directly at the students. Very strange teacher.

Sincerely

Well, well, well!

More will be revealed soon enough about Mr. Welch! He was pushing "Black Lives Matter" bigotry with his facemasks, he pushes sustainability indoctrination, and calls it "education," (and what does it have to do with English, by the way?).

Is this Mr. Welch? Will the real Mr. Welch please stand up? If anyone has other information about this English teacher, please email me:

arthur@massresistance.org