The Forbidden Schoolhouse
by Suzanne Jurmain

1. Bibliography:
Jurmain, Suzanne. THE FORBIDDEN SCHOOLHOUSE. 2005. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618473025

Suzanne Jurmain is the author of many non-fiction books that focus on US history and the relationship of animals to humans.

2. Plot Summary
THE FORBIDDEN SCHOOLHOUSE is a non-fiction book that is based upon the true story in 1831 in Canterbury Connecticut. This story unfolds with the horrors and hatred that followed after a lady named Prudence Crandall closed her all white school for young ladies and re-opened the school as one for young African American ladies to become educated. She is supported by her family, an anti slavery editor of the LIBERATOR who is known as Lloyd Garrison and a Unitarian Minister the Reverend Samuel May. Angry citizens became Prudence and the students enemies as they were harassed, attacked, the school was set on fire, rocks and eggs were thrown at the school, etc.
A law was passed to keep Prudence from bringing in out of state students to attend, which eventually landed Prudence in jail with fines and a trial. Prudence educated many of these girls as she continued her plight against all odds but eventually was forced to sell her school and move to Kansas. Many of these people contacted Prudence and offered their apologies over time. Prudence was buried at Elk Falls cemetery in Kansas in 1890.

3. Critical Analysis
The FORBIDDEN SCHOOLHOUSE received the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 2005, and the Orbis Pictus Honor Book designation, National Council of Teachers of English in 2006. The book is intended for children ages 9 - 12 and I do not recommend it for younger children as they would not understand the book and may lose interest in the text. The book reveals the difficulties and hardships of educating the young African Americans and women’s rights during this time. The vocabulary and text is written as it was spoken during the 1830’s. Hatred, heartache, discrimination, and courage are revealed throughout the book. The appendix provides information on the students who attended the African American school. Prudence took a stand and fought for her beliefs and what she felt was right. She was a great and powerful woman of her time.

The illustrations are photographs of the school house and how it appears today as a museum. Additional photos are provided of Prudence’s family, students, and those who helped her. Sketches and journal articles are also included throughout the book. The illustrations were borrowed from rare collections in university libraries, the Library of Congress and from the author’s personal collection.

The text displays the harshness and hate that comes from people as they threw manure down the school’s water well and the neighbors refused to give them water or allow them to buy groceries. Prudence’s father and brother hauled the water to the school everyday so the school could stay open.
In my opinion, the book had a very powerful statement from Prudence as she told the Reverend McKesson how he should preach at her funeral:

“Preach the truth.” Later she added, “I am no more afraid to die than I am to live.”

The Reverend McKesson spoke at her grave:
“She had deep convictions of right . . . [and] neither death, life, angels, principalities . . . or any other creatures could keep her from following her convictions.”


4. Review Excerpts

From School Library Journal
Grade 7-9–Jurmain describes the difficulties Crandall faced when she decided to open a school for African-American females in Canterbury, CT. This book offers a fresh look at the climate of education for African Americans and women in the early 1800s. Report writers and recreational readers alike will find it informative.–Kelly Czarnecki, Bloomington Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 5-8. Writing with a sense of drama that propels readers forward (and quoting the language of the day, which includes the word nigger), Jurmain makes painfully clear what Crandall and her students faced, while showing their courage as they stood up to those who tried to deter them. Printed on thick, snowy stock and including a number of sepia-toned and color photographs as well as historical engravings, the book's look will draw in readers. Children will be especially pleased by the appended material, which includes an epilogue that tells what became of the principals, as well as source notes for the many quotes. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections: Read the story to the children 1 - 2 chapters at a time, discussing the text and how this shaped our history. Discuss the pictures and encourage open discussion on the book as well as open discussion on multicultural students of today. Discuss Black History month and additional African Americans who made a difference in our history.

Additional works by Suzanne Jurmain include:
FROM TRUNK TO TAIL: ELEPHANTS LEGENDARY AND REAL
ONCE UPON A HORSE: A HISTORY OF HORSES AND HOW THEY SHAPED OUR HISTORY
FREEDOM’S SONS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE AMISTAD MUTINY