We took a fascinating free tour of Berea College today. Founded in 1855 by abolitionist John G. Fee, Berea College was the first interracial and coeducational school in the South. The Christian school provides a private, tuition-free, liberal arts education to about 1,500 students each year, most of whom come from Kentucky and the Appalachian region. In lieu of tuition, Berea has a work program that requires its students to work in on-campus jobs for at least 10 hours each week in their choice of some 130 different departments. Berea offers about 30 majors leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, and each student is required to attend seven convocations (guest lectures, concerts, or other cultural events) each term. Galen and I attended one these convocations today. We heard Silas House, a Kentucky writer, speak. Others who have given convocations: Robert Frost, Margaret Mead, Maya Angelou, and Alex Haley. George Winston will give one next month.
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