Emma Willard and the Address to the Public
Emma Willard was an American right's activist who dedicated her life to education. She worked in several schools and founded the first school for women’s higher education, the Troy Seminary school in Troy, New York. With the success of her school, Willard was able to travel across the country and abroad, to promote education for women. The Troy Female Seminary was renamed the Emma Willard School in 1895 in her honor.
Emma Willard in her journey to creating a higher education school for women ended up writing An Address to the Public...Instead of delivering a public speech, Willard wrote and distributed pamphlets to the public and sent them to members in the New York legislature, who were all at the time, male.
The decision to write and distribute a pamphlet was an effective one, for it did result in her being able to open up her school. Willard had a very liberal life for the time she was living and sometimes when people read her Address to the Public they sometimes have differing conclusions as to how Willard truly felt about women's rights.
Emma Willard in her journey to creating a higher education school for women ended up writing An Address to the Public...Instead of delivering a public speech, Willard wrote and distributed pamphlets to the public and sent them to members in the New York legislature, who were all at the time, male.
The decision to write and distribute a pamphlet was an effective one, for it did result in her being able to open up her school. Willard had a very liberal life for the time she was living and sometimes when people read her Address to the Public they sometimes have differing conclusions as to how Willard truly felt about women's rights.
The strategy to use a pamphlet was one of the more common strategies for women to get their words published. They were not at times allowed, and were very discouraged to speak publicly, especially in front of male audiences. The fact that Willard's main goal was to persuade a group of higher status men, the pamphlet was a smart move. Not only was she able to share her views with the Legislature but also receive a following from the public themselves.
Willard makes the claim in her Address to the Public that women were the first teachers she makes the statement that "As evidence that this statement does not exaggerate the female influence in society, our sex need but be considered, in the single relation of mothers. In this character, we have the charge of the whole mass of individuals, who are to compose the succeeding generation; during that period of youth, when the pliant mind takes any direction, to which it is steadily guided by a forming hand. How important a power is given by this charge! yet, little do too many of my sex know how, either to appreciate or improve it. Unprovided with the means of acquiring that knowledge, which flows liberally to the other sex- having our time of education devoted to frivolous acquirements, how should we understand the nature of the mind, so as to be aware of the importance of those early impressions, which we make upon the minds of our children? -or how should we be able to form enlarged and correct views, either of the character, to which we ought to mould them, or of the means most proper to form them aright?" We had seen this same strategy in Cady B. Stanton's Keynote Address at Seneca Falls.
Willard also makes religious references through out her address, and sets up her pamphlet so that everything is organized and outlined. She tends to write her pamphlet in a way that makes women seem inferior to men, which is interesting to notice when you read in her bio that her school for women ended up educating women attending the school at times better than most all-male schools. This must make one wonder how much of the address is tailored to Willard's audience and how much is coming from her heart. This is something to always keep in mind when analyzing someone's delivery. Who are they delivering to, and how do they target that audience? These questions can not only change the content of your rhetoric, but the actually act how you choose to deliver as well.
Willard makes the claim in her Address to the Public that women were the first teachers she makes the statement that "As evidence that this statement does not exaggerate the female influence in society, our sex need but be considered, in the single relation of mothers. In this character, we have the charge of the whole mass of individuals, who are to compose the succeeding generation; during that period of youth, when the pliant mind takes any direction, to which it is steadily guided by a forming hand. How important a power is given by this charge! yet, little do too many of my sex know how, either to appreciate or improve it. Unprovided with the means of acquiring that knowledge, which flows liberally to the other sex- having our time of education devoted to frivolous acquirements, how should we understand the nature of the mind, so as to be aware of the importance of those early impressions, which we make upon the minds of our children? -or how should we be able to form enlarged and correct views, either of the character, to which we ought to mould them, or of the means most proper to form them aright?" We had seen this same strategy in Cady B. Stanton's Keynote Address at Seneca Falls.
Willard also makes religious references through out her address, and sets up her pamphlet so that everything is organized and outlined. She tends to write her pamphlet in a way that makes women seem inferior to men, which is interesting to notice when you read in her bio that her school for women ended up educating women attending the school at times better than most all-male schools. This must make one wonder how much of the address is tailored to Willard's audience and how much is coming from her heart. This is something to always keep in mind when analyzing someone's delivery. Who are they delivering to, and how do they target that audience? These questions can not only change the content of your rhetoric, but the actually act how you choose to deliver as well.
Questions:
1. What similarities do you see between Stanton's Keynote Address and and modern day speakers? What differences do you see?
2. What strategies does Willard seem to utilize in her Public Address? How do these strategies benefit her rhetorical delivery? Does it hurt it at all?
3. What are similar pieces of rhetoric that reminds you of Willard's Public Address?
1. What similarities do you see between Stanton's Keynote Address and and modern day speakers? What differences do you see?
2. What strategies does Willard seem to utilize in her Public Address? How do these strategies benefit her rhetorical delivery? Does it hurt it at all?
3. What are similar pieces of rhetoric that reminds you of Willard's Public Address?