What are ragged schools?

Answer 1

Ragged schools were started in the early 19th century by individuals on a voluntary basis. John Pounds of Portsmouth, a crippled shoemaker is usually seen as the first, though it's hard to trace exact origins. They were for the really ragged and poor children who were too ragged to be welcomed at the Sunday Schools. They would not have wanted to go anyway. these children were the destitute poor, often living on the streets. They were bribed to come into the schools with food often. They were taught The Bible and basics of reading and writing. Eventually the schools were formalised under the Ragged School Union by Lord Shaftesbury. They eventually joined the Sunday School Union. They were mainly held on Sundays, morning and afternoon classes but many held classses on weekday nights too. Eventually they developed clothing clubs, Band of Hope groups and many other social and educational organisations. The Ragged School Union became the Shaftesbury Society and survives today as a children's charity. There is a Ragged School Museum in London but it is only open a couple of days a week.