prudence crandall (september 3, 1803 – january 28, 1890) was an american teacher. she was born on september 3, 1803 to quakers. she went to the new england friends’ boarding school in providence, rhode island. in october 1831, she opened a private girls’ school in canterbury, connecticut. in 1833, an african american girl was admitted to the school. the parents of the white girls in the school wanted the black girl expelled. crandall refused. she opened a school for african american girls in april 1833.