RAGGED AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS; REFUGES FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN. Efforts to instruct ignorant and neg lected children are not peculiar to the present time, although such . efforts have been of late years more systematic and sustained than formerly. The Sunday schools now so numerous in this country com menced with what were in effect ragged schools. About sixty years ago, Thomas Cranfield, in conjunction with a few other persons connected with Surrey Chapel (Rev. Rowland Hill's), commenced a " Fragment school " in the Mint, Southwark, which was followed by the ',opening of other schools, similar to the present ragged schools. John Pounds, a cobbler, of Portsmouth, gathered neglected children into his workshop, and in this humble way was able to impart the rudiments of education to about five hundred children. About 1839, efforts were put forth in Bristol and in London to establish schools for the neglected and outcast. Andrew Walker, an agent of the London City Mission, opened schools of the kind referred to in West minster, and similar schools were soon after commenced in other parts of London, till, in the course of five years, when the Ragged School Union was formed (1844), there were 20 schools, with 200 voluntary teachers and about 2000 scholars.
Ragged Schools are generally intended to impart instruction, chiefly religious. At first they were usually open during the week in the evening only, besides being open on Sundays. It was considered best to commence the experiment with the eveniug school, as many of the children had to provide for themselves the means of living by selling articles in the streets, and most of them were unwilling to sub mit to the restraint of school hours during the day-time. This system was found, in the course of a few years' experience, to work very imperfectly, and paid teachers were in many cases engaged to conduc the schools. Such schools were opened during the day as well as in the evening. In many schools industrial day and evening classes were also added ; and in some, food, to a small extent, was given to the scholars. In order to obtain more complete control over the children, Industrial Feeding Schools were established, In which the children are taken charge of for the whole of the day, supplied with food, instructed in the ordinary branches of common school education, and taught some handicraft. The credit of originating this system is by common consent
awarded to Sheriff Watson, of Aberdeen, and the schools founded by him are generally regarded as models. Refuges are industrial feeding schools in which the children are also housed and clothed. Reformatories are similar to refuges, with this difference, that the children received into reformatories are such as have brought themselves under the operation of the criminal laws of the country, and are, by authority of the magistrates, placed under instruction and discipline, not only for their own benefit, hut likewise for the protection of the community. [RI:roamsroams.] In connection with the London Ragged School Union, at the com mencement of 1860 the number of schools held on Sunday afternoon and evening was about 200 ; of scholars, more than 22,000. Of day schools, there were 146 ; of night schools, 200. Of industrial classes, there were 114. About 1500 children were sent to situations during the year 1859. There were 2670 voluntary teachers, 380 paid monitors, and 416 paid teachers. The paid teachers have an association for mutual benefit, by means of which new modes of teaching and other improvements are communicated to the members. There were 76 penny banks, with upwards of 15,000 depositors, with an amount approaching 9000/. paid in during 1859. In 49 clothing clubs sums amounting to nearly 600/. were contributed by the subscribers for the purchase of articles of wearing appareL In connection with the operations of the Union, there were 93 Ragged Church and City Mission meetings held weekly, and 75 meetings for the benefit specially of the fathers and mothers of the children attending ragged schools. During the year, 132 scholars had become voluntary teachers, and 88 were received as members of Christian churches. The aggregate income of 155 schools for 1859 was upwards of 17,0001., and that of 15 refuges was more than 15,000/. The expenditure of the Ragged School Union was about 6000/. During the year, 232/.13s. had been given by the Union in small sums as prizes to scholars who had retained situations for more than twelve months.