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About
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.
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.
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Reviews
"Dykstra takes a deep dive into Berea's institutional culture and enduring commitment to democratic values. In so doing, she demonstrates how the college's distinct approach to liberal arts education has nurtured generations of low-income and minority students to respect tradition, diversity, and the dignity of work while living a life committed to social justice and civic responsibility. This sma
Ronald D. Eller, author of Uneven Ground: Appalachia Since 1945
"With the keen eye of a gifted storyteller, Gretchen Dykstra weaves a rich tapestry that sheds light on a question asked by every admirer of Berea College: How does this small institution, nestled deep in Appalachia, outpace virtually every other American collegeon every metric that matters? The story of Berea, beautifully documented in this engaging book, reflects Berea's deep commitments to raci
Jeremy Travis, President Emeritus, John Jay College of Criminal Justice