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TERRITORIAL SCHOOL
Ninilchik, Alaska
Dec. 10, 1948
Dear Miss Fallows,
Thank you for your long and interesting letter
of Nov. 29, which I just received.
In regard to my representation of the Dept. of
Elem. School Princ., thanks for your congratulations, but it is my second year
with that work, nothing new, just a routine job, which I mentioned as my
"additional" jobs, which I like to carry on, just to be busy all the time.
You will find parts of your letter published in
the enclosed last issue of my school paper.
You must understand that my work here in
Ninilchik faces, many times, ignorance, indifference, even vicious attitudes of
some people. The whole work of the P.T.A. is carried by a very small group
of people. The rest - well, they feel that [the] teacher can try things
until he will get tired, or will leave our village, then, everything will come
to the "old order." Most of them do not want any changes even if they know
those changes will be for the better.
Liquor is and ill be the "chief occupation" of
most of them. It is that truth which one has to speak, if he supposes to
be frank and sincere about his work here in Alaska. My conditions are not
different from many, many other Alaskan communities.
Yet, I see a real goal in my work, and will
remain in Alaska for many years to come - just teaching.
Sincerely yours,
Roman Malach
Envelope: from - Territorial School,
Ninilchik, Alaska; postmark - [rubbed out], Alaska, [rubbed out], 1949; to -
Miss Mary Fallows, Grove Street, East Berlin, Conn. |
