Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Dr. Emily Stowe: In Spite of the Odds
What would it take to stop you from reaching your goals? Would it take only a small setback in your plans? Would it take a long struggle, or would you never give up? Emily Stowe wanted to be a doctor, but colleges in Canada would not allow women to attend. Emily was determined to achieve her dream and help other women to achieve theirs, too.
Emily Jennings Stowe was born on May 1, 1831, in South Norwich, Upper Canada. Her mother, a well-educated Quaker woman, was dedicated to giving her six daughters as good an education as she could. She thought the local schools were not teaching the children adequately, so she taught her daughters at home.
Emily's mother was interested in using healing herbs. Emily was also interested in herbs, but was fascinated with homeopathy as well. She even studied with a family friend, Dr. John Lancaster, who was a homeopathic doctor.
When Emily was fifteen, she became a teacher. She taught in a small schoolhouse for seven years. In 1853-54, she attended the Provincial Normal School in Toronto. It was a teachers college. She earned her first class teaching certificate in one year.
