Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color

Citation

Alexander, Elizabeth, Marilyn Nelson, and Floyd Cooper. Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color: Poems. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong, 2007. ISBN 1590784561

Poetic Elements

This collection of sonnets, written through the combined talents of poets Elizabeth Alexander and Marilyn Nelson, tells the moving story of Prudence Crandall. She was a brave woman who dared to educate black students during the pre-Civil War era. The poets have taken the lyrical format of the 14 lined sonnet, with spare rhyme thrown in, and have created imagery rich entries that detail the struggles faced by this woman and the students she taught. Phrases such as “...beckoning finger of destiny...” describe the emotions students feel as they enter into their education, along with my personal favorite, “...an uneducated mind is a clenched fist that can open, like a bud, into a flower.” The figurative language is heavy when it is described how “...The filth hissed at us when we venture out...” and “...some of the girls believe a spirit lurks, waiting among the ghostly pantaloons and petticoats...” since they were forced to wash and dry their undergarments indoors because it was not safe to go outside.

Appeal and Overall Quality

This is a highly appealing collection, and part of what makes it such an enjoyable read is the middle length of the sonnet. The 14 lines format of the sonnet is just the right length, in these talented poet's hands, to convey different elements of the struggles faced by Prudence Crandall and her students. The poems are consistent in portraying the themes of loss and hope for a better future. The illustrator, who himself has won awards, provides gently washed out illustrations in muted colors that add emphasis to the words but don't overpower them. The book is set up well for those looking to read more of the historical information behind the poems. A large introduction at the front of the book tells the true story of Prudence Crandall and how she accepted black students into her school beginning in 1832. The introduction gives great information and gives the reader some basic knowledge before they jump into the poems. The Table of Contents are broken down into sections, based on the timeline of the history. They range from the very beginning, as students are packing up to travel to the school, through their learning, to the harassment from the townsfolk, to the ultimate closing of the school. This gesture provides some separation to the poems and helps organize them by topic. Certain poems are written in honor of, or in reference to, real people who attended or were involved with the school. I like this facet of the book because it invites further research into those individuals. Finally, the author's notes at the end describe in greater detail the process of how these two poets came together and wrote such a cohesive book of poetry based on a dark event in our nation's history. This book is a great addition throughout multiple units, and older students will appreciate history presented in 14 line sonnets!

Spotlight Poem

Good-bye

The mother who packs her daughter's valise,

tucks a Bible between muslin layers.

The father who shoes horses and fixes

clocks and other intricate things that break

saves coins in their largest preserving jar

'til the day for which they have waited comes.

See Mother wash and oil and comb and braid

Daughter's thick brown hair for the very last time.

Does “good-bye” mean we hope or mean we weep?

Does it remember all you know, or

come back as soon as you can, or do not?

Does it mean go now, or I do not know?

Good-bye, Daughter, says Mother. She watches

the horse and buggy 'til it fades from view.

Follow-Up Activity

I love this poem for the emotion it conveys. Two parents sending their child off into the unknown to seek greater fortune would be meaningful whether we were discussing skin color or not. I think this poem lends itself well to a discussion of black history. How many parents sent their children off to an unknown future, whether by choice or by force? I think after a unit on black history, and seeing the many different scenarios where children were separated from their parents, I would have students act out this poem in groups. I would leave it up to them whether they would do a choral reading, or interpretive play, or something else of the sort. I think this poem lends itself to students emoting and acting out the weight of the words and the images conveyed.

Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—Twenty-four sonnets tell the story of Prudence Crandall and her efforts to educate young African-American women in Canterbury, CT, 1833-1834. The school began as a boarding school for white girls; when two black women inquired about taking classes and Crandall agreed, the townspeople withdrew their daughters. As she accepted more black students, the town became more vocal in its resistance, poisoning the school water supply, refusing to sell it supplies, and charging Miss Crandall and others with a variety of "crimes." The sonnet format is challenging but compelling. Each poem addresses an individual aspect of the story; therefore, the tone and cadence change depending upon the person speaking or the event being depicted. The introduction gives essential information, but readers with no background will still need help understanding the political, social, and historical context. Cooper's pastel mixed-media illustrations sometimes illuminate the poems, but at other times seem solely decorative. His portraits for "Tao of the Trial" and "Miss Ann Eliza Hammond" are powerfully rendered, while the nature scenes add little to the poetic experience. The art's sketchiness, however, does suit the poetic form. There are empty spaces in the pictures just as the language of the poetry leaves openness for readers' interpretation. A heartfelt, unusual presentation, this book rewards patient readers.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

"... The images in their poems and in Cooper's quiet, dramatic pastel illustrations compellingly capture the haunting history..." --Booklist, Starred Review

"... [A] glorious poetic celebration of the teacher and students at a Connecticut school that defied mid-19th-century convention to educate African-American girls...Cooper's soft pastel illustrations provide a muted counterpoint to the text, mixing depictions of school and students with images of the natural world in a lovely rhythm. A foreword provides a brief prose history of the school; a concluding authors' note explains their collaborative process." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"... The words are powerful as they celebrate the importance of education and hardships that the students endured to achieve it. The reader appreciates the courage of these women, facing the hostilities of the townsfolk. Floyd Cooper's illustrations capture the moods of the poems and help tell the story of persecution and adversity that eventually forced the school's closure. This book celebrates the women who risked everything to improve their lives. It can serve as an example for today's youth for appreciating the opportunities for education that they have today regardless of race." --Library Media Connection