“They Burned the School for Girls”
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“They Burned the School for Girls” Editor’s Note: We received the following guest article from Jean Cantwell, Chap- excellence or about art? I wondered how women can be educated and can live in- ter JR, Branson, Missouri, on the importance of educating women and girls. Those many schools for girls had been burned dependently. They have no skills to find affiliated with Cottey understand the significance of educated women. In fact, as we in that country without our having heard like-minded women to organize and de- received this article, we had just finished four short features on Cottey students and about them. It was not just one commu- mand their rights as human beings. They their achievements. This article dovetailed nicely with the features and only empha- nity that had stifled live totally subju- sizes the importance of supporting the education of women and girls. Think your the desire to learn Seventy percent of the gated to the male support of women’s education doesn’t matter? Read Jean Cantwell’s article, look at for women. world’s out-of-school chil- society that keeps the remarkable things these four Cottey students are doing, and visit www.girleffect. dren are girls. Girls deserve them confined org. After that, we believe you’ll understand how important your support is. Men dominate behind the walls of ~SR those societies better. They deserve quality their homes except where women can- education and the safe envi- when they don the by Jean Cantwell that women enjoy in the United States. not read, cannot ronments and support that burkha that totally They would never be able to have a walk on the street allow them to get to school covers their head, I heard the newscaster on TV as I walked career in a dentist’s office, or become alone, and cannot on time and stay there arms, body, and through the room, “Marauders burned the a nurse, or operate their own business. drive a car. Women legs, that hampers school for girls.” The words burned into They could never read about the history cannot rebel to re- through adolescence. their movements Imy heart. I did not hear in which country of their own nation. How could they gain their freedom -from www.girleffect.org almost as much as it had happened, but I knew that school teach their children about heroes who when they have no the ankle chains of would never be rebuilt. I suddenly envi- show courage and honesty, about the ability to communi- prisoners. sioned a whole community of little girls pursuit of happiness, or religions of the cate with anyone who can tell them what who would never read about the freedom world, or the satisfaction of achieving liberty is. They do not understand that One of my P.E.O. Sisters lived in a “women wear burkhas” nation for over a year when her husband worked there Meet Elisa LeDesky in the oil industry. She told us how a burkha restrains a woman simply be- “Change in Action” (CIA) isn’t just the we met on a weekly basis in the Library new initiative “Enlighten Their Minds, cause it is so cumbersome. She called it name of a Cottey College organization conference room to brainstorm and plan Empower Their World” to sponsor the “the black bag.” The burkha restricts her that Elisa LeDesky helped found; it’s a our projects.” education of indigenous Guatemalan peripheral vision. In some countries, the Cpretty good description of LeDesky as girls. In Guatemala, there is no free women wear the veil that has a thread, well. In her two years at Cottey, LeDesky In her freshman year, LeDesky organized education as in the United States. Parents lattice-like covering over the eyes. That has made an enormous impact on the “Color Their World,” a project to send must pay tuition for their children to would be like trying to see through a lives of girls in attend school. Many indigenous Ma- heavily woven screen. The covering Guatemala. Be- yan families are too poor to send their over her nose made it difficult to breathe, cause of her efforts children to school, or if they can afford and it added to the heat held within her (along with those some, they will send their sons, but not robe. The temperature in some of those of her suitemates their daughters. countries often exceeds 100 degrees. and friends), three Guatemalan girls Through fundraising events, CIA raised My friend could not leave her house have their educa- over $3,900. “Because of our financial without wearing “the black bag.” When tion paid for all the success this year,” said LeDesky, “the meeting a man on the street, she cast her way through high three students we sponsor (who are in eyes down for fear he would see her blue school. How did it eighth grade at the moment) have just eyes and become enraged. If a woman’s all start? had their entire education through high burkha was considered to be an inch school paid for. In other words, we sent shorter than required, any man on the “Last year I was San Lucas Toliman Scholars a check to street is allowed to hit her with a stick or eating with my pay for the education not only this year other weapon. suite at the begin- -for the three girls-but also paid off the ning of the year,” tuition costs for their entire high school She spoke of a particular afternoon said LeDesky. “We Elisa LeDesky education! This is so exciting!” when she was not permitted to enter an began to talk about air conditioned ice cream store with her travel and our life goals and I let my crayons and coloring books to an orphan- Now that she has her Cottey diploma, husband. He brought her an ice cream suite know that I had spent three months age where LeDesky had done some LeDesky is transferring to Canadian cone to eat outside in the heat, and I living in Guatemala doing service proj- of her service work. LeDesky and her Mennonite University in Winnipeg, still do not understand how she man- ects across the country. I told them how friends ended up sending over 220 boxes Manitoba, Canada. She plans on major- aged to slide it under her robe, to get to much I wanted to do something for girls of crayons to the orphanage. ing in peace and conflict resolution and her mouth. What a mess that must have in Guatemala. My entire suite was gung- intercultural studies. Afterwards, she been! ho about being proactive and making this That project only served to inspire plans on attending seminary and becom- happen, so we got together brainstorming LeDesky and CIA to bigger and better ing a pastor. what we could do. From that evening on things. In her second year, she began a Please see Burned on page 4 Meet three other students on page 4 Pridal Named New VPAA A Message From Your CCAA 1-2-5 Campaign Cottey College is pleased to announce the hiring of Cathryn G. Pridal, Ph.D., as its Yes, our alma mater is turning 125 new vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) and dean of the faculty. Pridal will years old this year! What a dream a assume her duties at the College on July 1. She replaces Dr. Mary E. Kitterman who young Virginia Alice Cottey had, to Cis retiring. educate young women in the 1800s. To honor her, her dream, and Cottey, Dr. Pridal has been employed at the alumnae board would like to Westminster College in Fulton, Mis- challenge each of you to help in the souri, since 1996. She is a professor following three ways: of psychology and also served as the associate dean of the faculty at West- 1 alumnae gathering in each state in minster from July 2002 to July 2008. the month of September. Let Cottey In that position, she oversaw func- know if you are interested in organiz- 1ing or helping organize an event in tions in the academic area of the col- lege, participated in board of trustees your area. The alumnae office will meetings, and served as a member of send out invitations and assist you the president’s cabinet. with all of the planning and execu- tion of the event. The point person Prior to her arrival at Westminster, just has to pick a place, date, and Lori Trail Martin ‘91 Dr. Pridal was a clinical assistant pro- time. We have secured point people CCAA Board fessor in the department of psycho- in the following states: Washington, logical sciences at the University of Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri in Columbia from 1988 to Missouri, Nevada, Illinois, Arizona, Class Agent Update 1995. Dr. Pridal also was an adjunct and Wyoming. If you see your area, Hallelujah! For the first time, we professor in the department of psy- plan to attend. If you don’t see your have class agents committed for all chology at William Woods University area, offer to be the point person. We reunions ending in ‘00 & ‘05. With in Fulton, Missouri, from 1987 to want this to be a fun way of meeting those commitments made so early on, 1991 and a visiting assistant profes- other Cottey alumnae in your area. Founders 2010 is bound to be AMAZ- sor in the department of family and ING! 2 percent increase in class giving. community medicine in the medical Have you donated this year? Make school at the University of Missouri If 2010 is your reunion year, here are a commitment to donate every year Dr.