Sequoyah School Students Take Civic Action After Visiting Manzanar

At Sequoyah School, education goes far beyond the classroom—and sometimes all the way to Congress.

As part of their “Over There” class, a group of 5th and 6th grade students recently undertook a powerful civic project that connected history with the present. After visiting the Manzanar War Relocation Center earlier this year, the students drew striking parallels between the historical injustices of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the modern-day construction of migrant detention centers at Guantanamo Bay.

Led by teacher Peter Romano, the class explored the significance of Manzanar as a symbol of systemic injustice, and then turned their attention to recent developments in Guantanamo Bay, where the U.S. government is constructing new facilities to detain migrants. Recognizing historical patterns of marginalization, the students decided to raise their voices.

“They located the offices of their senators and House Representatives and wrote letters to Congress voicing their concerns and demanding action,” Romano said. “We even decorated our envelopes to ensure they couldn’t be missed.”

The project was deeply rooted in the school’s commitment to civic engagement and hands-on learning. Before spring break, students mailed their handwritten letters, urging elected officials not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

But the students didn’t just learn about detention centers. As part of their research, they also studied the history of the United States Postal Service and its critical role in shaping American democracy. From the Revolutionary era to the present day, they explored how mail has connected communities and empowered citizen voices.

“Learning how the postal service functions—and how it has empowered civic discourse for centuries—gave the students a strong sense of how democratic participation can start with something as simple as a letter,” Romano added.

The project reflects Sequoyah School’s educational philosophy of combining academic rigor with real-world application, encouraging students to become thoughtful and engaged citizens. In voicing their concerns to Congress, these young learners took a meaningful step toward understanding their role in a democratic society.

For more information about Sequoyah School’s programs and curriculum, visit www.meetsequoyahschool.org.