Victoria+A.+-+RFC+-+SP10

Prudence Crandall 1803-1890

I, Prudence Crandall, have done no wrong with anything pertaining to the conduction of my school. When the school originally opened in 1833, it only permitted white, female students; this was such an unfair request that I had to allow an African-American to attend my school. Yet, when I admit a black student, Sarah Harris, I become criticized and hated for it? Are they not human and worthy of an education? You parents attempt to provoke me in to dismissing Sarah from my school, yet when I refuse, you remove your children from my teaching and my school. The only thing I can be convicted of is possible violation of the "black law" I suppose, yet finding me guilty and imprisoning me did not stop me. I won my case at the Supreme Court due to lack of evidence, and it does not matter if you did not wish to have your daughters attend my school, I had students attending from states as far away as New York and Boston. By your children not attending my school had to relevance to you, but that was not enough, was it? The only reason Canterbury Female Boarding School was closed is due to the safety of my students. Sending a mob of angry towns' people to threaten the lives of my African-American students was an action you all took that I will have to live with, my only wish is that you feel guilt for the fact that you have denied these girls a proper education.
 * Criticism/Goals:**

I tried to improve the lives of these young girls, white and black, and yet I am still despised for it. I first took in Sarah Harris as my first black student, she was then followed by others varying from different states. I gave an education to these girls and gave them the hope in the possibility of bettering their lives. I hope that my short term teaching influenced their lives, and if it were not for physical threats against my students, I would have kept the school operating.
 * Methods:

I wish I could say that I had done more in changing the lives of these girls. My school opened in Autumn of 1833 and was unwillingly close on September 10, 1834. Unfortunately I was not able to keep the school running as long as it could have, but I pray I had an influence on the town and my students. Those who were involved in the closing the the school should be ashamed, and the students who attended my school should be proud of themselves and I thank them for their presence. I want to represent temperance, and women's suffrage, and hope I was successful in that. My only reward from the state came with a $400 per year payment once the Connecticut Legislator apologized for my treatment.
 * Success:

So I suppose my goals were not very pragmatic for this time. May 24, 1833, the Connecticut Legislator passed the "Black Law." The law prohibited the admission of an African-American student to a school with out the town's permission. I believed this to be a foolish law, and it was well worth my short imprisonment to ignore this law.
 * Practicality of Goals:

I, personally, believe that if the President Jackson would allow the attendance //and// security of African-Americans in my school, it abolish all of my concerns. The Supreme Court already ruled that there was no wrong doing; however, I need the safety of my students to be secured. I need either a law or even military force to prevent the town's people from threatening the lives of African-American students. Once that has been established I can then continue my school.
 * Advancement provided by President:

William Lloyd Garrison: With the help of William, I was able to secure the opening of my women's school. William supported my school, mainly by writing //The Liberator// as support and advertisement for my school.
 * References:** ** ** ** **

Arthur Tappan: Arthur was a very-strong willed man who, as my lawyer, defended me in all my cases. He initially worked with William and together they formed the American Anti-Slavery Society. Arthur later went on to support the underground railroad and the Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.

Works Cited "Arthur Tappan: Information from Answers.com." //Answers.com: Wiki Q&A combined with free online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedias //. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. . "Prudence Crandall." //Blue Skyways - A service of the State Library of Kansas //. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. . "Prudence Crandall was born in Rhode Island on 3rd September, 1803. After being educated at a Society of Friends school in Plainfield, Connecticut, Crandall established her own private academy for girls at Canterbury." //Spartacus Educational - Home Page //. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. . "Women of Achievement." //THE LIZ LIBRARY | Women's law and research | women's history, family law, politics, children's issues, education, religion, and psychology //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.thelizlibrary.org/collections/woa/woa09-03.html>.