How to Use Reading 1: Prudence Crandall and the Canterbury
Female Boarding School In the fall of 1831, the residents of
Canterbury, Connecticut, approached 27-year-old Prudence
Crandall about opening a private school for young women in their
community. Crandall accepted the invitation and paid $500 as a
down payment to purchase the recently vacated Paine mansion
located on the town's green. Having been educated at the
Friends' Boarding School in Providence, Rhode Island, and having
taught at local district schools, Crandall came to the position
with a fine reputation as a teacher. The Crandall family,
Quakers from Rhode Island, moved to south Canterbury when
Prudence was young. The Canterbury Female Boarding School
enjoyed the complete support of the community and was soon a
success. Subjects taught included reading, writing, arithmetic,
English grammar, geography, history, chemistry, astronomy, and
moral philosophy. Basic tuition and room and board cost $25 per
quarter. Students paid extra fees for instructi