Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-30
RACE PREJUDICE
Said to Have Influenced Canterbury
School Board in Dismissins Miss
Terry.

The peculiar form of rabies that
transformed the genial, joviaI gentle
me1 of Canterbury into malicious per-
secutors of Prudence Crandall in the
early part of the last century is re-
called by recent outburst of opposi-
ton from some of the residents of that
same old town against Miss Felicia c.
Terry, a young colored woman, who
has been teaching the Raymond dis
trict school
The prejudices against a race that
allows the citizens of old Canterbury
to be reviewed in the history of Wind
ham county. as given to a malignant
intent to drive Miss Crandall and the
little misses of color from the. school
she had provided for them, finds par
allel in the case of Miss Terry. The
virulent hatred exhibited against Pru-
dence Crandall finds no place in this
later day controversy; the incident
does not promise to attract the coun-
try wide attention that was directed
to Canterbury during the stirring days
that witnessed the transformation of
Miss CrandalPs school for young wom-
en- into haven for the training of the
minds of the colored children that she
befriended; but though Miss Terry has
escaped the venom that caused men of
old Canterbury to batter down the
doors and smash in the windows of
the school of more than 100 years ago
her case suggests the prevailing spirit
of past century days.
Miss Terry's home is in Brooklyn.
She is a graduate of Killingly High
school and Of the Normal school at
Willimantic. Her record as a student
In both institutions is very satisfac-
tory, and she is regarded by persons
familiar with her work as a competent
teacher.
In September of last year Miss Ter
ry commenced to teach in the Ray
nond district school in the town of
Canterbury. She taught during the
entire school year, and her work was
regarded as satisfactory by members
of the state board, school visitors and
parents. She was in fact, very sue
cessful and the district committee en-
gagged her for another year.
On July Is of the current year the
district committee was abolished and
practically an entire new town board
elected at the town meeting in Octo-
ber This new board contains some of
the members Of the old district board.
Miss Terry in September inquired of
these members if she should resume
her teaching, and it is understood she
was advised to do so.
Miss Terry did so, and a few days
after school opened one of the mem
DerS OF the DOarQ came 10 Visit ner
school and was apparently satisfied
with what he saw.
Then came the October town meet
ing, and the member who visited the
school in September was reelected. A
few days later Miss Terry was inform
ed by two members of the board that
her services would be no longer re-
quired and the school was closed. The
seventeen children who attend the Ray
mond district school are being trans
ported to the school in the North So
ciety district. where previously only
nine children have been attending
school.
There is a split among the citizens
of the town on the matter and sympa-
thy is divided. Some of the parents
Of the children in the Raymond district
are much worked up over the matter,
which is of all absorbing interest in
the town.
"country Life" the Topic.
Killingly grange will send a number
of members to attend the special meet
ing of Quinebaug Pomona grange.
which will meet with Wolf Den grange
at Abingdon today Saturday. An in
teresting programme has been arrang-
eed under the general topic, Country
Life"