Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PMSS Publications (Published by the School)
Dear Friend Letters 1968
DEAR FRIEND Letters 1968 May and November
TAGS: Dear Friend letters 1968,fundraising letters,PMSS Director Burton Rogers,John Spelman III print,school breakfast program,special needs tutoring,independent library research,building maintenance,drama projects,visiting groups,conservation,1969 PMSS Calendar,leaves of absence for the Rogers
CONTENTS: Dear Friend Letter 1968 May
Cover
Woodcut (linoleum block?) of forest setting by John A. Spelman III.
Page 1 of 2
Header: “Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky 40861
May, 1968″
Director Burton Rogers states the School’s current focus:
“…on the people of our part of Appalachia, and most of our efforts directly concern this community’s school-age children. … We are now participating in a Harlan County experimental school breakfast program, made possible as part of the Federal School Lunch program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. …The extra work [on the part of both the Settlement School and public school employees] is well justified by the overwhelming participation of the children….”
DEAR FRIEND Letter from Burton Rogers,1968 May, page 1. [1968BurtonRogerstoFriend2.jpg]
Another school project “provides tutoring sessions for certain pupils with very special needs.” Staff members are helping students do independent research projects in the library and receive personal counseling as well as assisting with building maintenance which Rogers describes. PMSS and community families cooperated in a fundraising chicken supper; the Girl Scouts took handmade toys and a program to a children’s home.
Page 2 of 2
Rogers describes drama projects, such as “Ferdinand the Bull” with paper bag puppets and “Rumpelstiltskin.”
Groups that shared PMSS buildings and grounds “ranged from U.S. State Department foreign service trainees needing a meeting place where ‘grass roots’ efforts can be observed, to a group of volunteers working in ‘grass roots’ efforts in Eastern Kentucky….”
Rogers lists plans for the summer, such as hosting groups, providing programs for the young people and growing cane for sorghum and broom corn from fireplace brooms, as well as the usual activities.
Rogers then writes about the challenges in Appalachia. PMSS’s contributions make a difference but “an unlimited need still surrounds us.” We must be dedicated not only to the “best development of human resources” but also of the wise use of natural resources.
” The full-time efforts of [PMSS] toward a rounded education for community youth and a concerned and participating community of adults are scarcely adequate. We need all possible assistance from our friends to be financially able to continue a wide spread of activities, and for encouragement and support as the nation makes decisions affecting Appalachian programs.”
DEAR FRIEND Letter 1968 May from Burton Rogers, page 2. [1968MayBurtonRogersto Friend3.jpg]
“Sincerely yours,
[signed] Burton Rogers, Director”
GALLERY
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- Dear Friend Letter from Burton Rogers, 1968 May, Cover by Spelman. [1968MayBurtonRogerstoFriend.jpg]
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- Dear Friend Letter from Burton Rogers, 1968 May, Page 1. [1968MayBurtonRogerstoFriend2-scaled.jpg]
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- Dear Friend Letter from Burton Rogers, 1968 May, Page 2. [1968MayBurtonRogerstoFriend3.jpg]
CONTENTS: Dear Friend Letter 1968 November 25
Page 1 of 1
Header: “Pine Mountain Settlement School Incorporated
Pine Mountain, Kentucky 40861
November 25, 1968″
Sketch: Tall pine trees with mountain range in background.
This “Dear Friends” letter sends greetings and gratitude by way of enclosing the 1969 calendar.
A summary is then provided of PMSS’s 1968 activities and concerns, in-school and out-of-school. This year also brought a breakfast program, a blacktop surface to the road leading to PMSS and the first auger mining to the neighborhood. Current concerns include raising consciousness of conservation in the community and certain building maintenance and workshop needs.
The Board of Trustees voted a leave of absence for Burton Rogers and his wife, Mary Rogers for “a summer and a semester.”
The uncertainties to be faced in 1969 include the future development of the cooperative public and PMSS school; economic and industrial developments; limited staff and resources; and rising costs. Past financial support is appreciated and urgently needed in the coming year.
“Sincerely yours,
THE PINE MOUNTAIN STAFF
for [signed] Burton Rogers, Director”
GALLERY
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