In 1859, a mob of sixty-five prominent armed men rode into Berea, Kentucky, and forced the closure of its integrated one-room schoolhouse. Founded by Kentucky-born abolitionist John Gregg Fee, the school was open to anyone, regardless of their race or gender—a notion that horrified white supremacists. The mob evicted thirty-six community members, including Fee’s family, but Fee and the others returned to Berea in 1864 and reestablished the institution, still committed to educating Appalachia’s most vulnerable populations.
In Lessons from the Foothills, Gretchen Dykstra profiles modern Berea College with its rich and beloved history. This book is the first to focus on contemporary Berea and its eight Great Commitments—the principles and practices that provide clear aspirations for the college and its community. Each chapter functions as a deep dive into the history, practice, and significance of one Great Commitment, from providing opportunity for the most marginalized, to the college’s high academic standards and its commitment to environmental sustainability. The college has pledged to ‘provide an educational opportunity for students of all races, primarily from Appalachia, who have great promise and limited economic resources.’
To achieve this goal, the college eliminated tuition in 1892 and it also provides jobs for students to assist with living expenses.
Drawn from interviews with a range of members of the Berea community, including alumni, students, faculty, and staff, Lessons from the Foothills is an engaging portrait of a unique and historic institution and its enduring commitment to nurture and support academic excellence and service.
Cuprins
The Eight Great Commitments
Introduction
1. Chapter One: Berea Today
2. Chapter Two: John Fee, His Courage and His Clarity
3. Chapter Three: Educational Opportunity
4. Chapter Four: Liberal Arts
5. Chapter Five: Inclusive Christian Values
6. Chapter Six: Learning Through Labor and Service
7. Chapter Seven: The Kinship of All People
8. Chapter Eight: A Democratic Community
9. Chapter Nine: A Supportive and Sustainable Campus
10. Chapter Ten: Serving Appalachia and Its People
Conclusion
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Index
Despre autor
Gretchen Dykstra, author of Echoes from Wuhan: The Past as Prologue and Civic Pioneers: Local Stories from a Changing America, 1895–1915, and coauthor of Pinery Boys: Songs and Songcatching in the Lumberjack Era, has written articles for several publications, including the New York Times and California History. She lives in Haverford, Pennsylvania.
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