Religion and Relationships in Ragged Schools

An Intimate History of Educating the Poor, 1844-1870

Laura M Mair author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Inc

Published:28th Mar '19

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Religion and Relationships in Ragged Schools cover

Focusing on the interaction between teachers and scholars, this book provides an intimate account of "ragged schools" that challenges existing scholarship on evangelical child-saving movements and Victorian philanthropy. With Lord Shaftesbury as their figurehead, these institutions provided a free education to impoverished children. The primary purpose of the schools, however, was the salvation of children’s souls.

Using promotional literature and local school documents, this book contrasts the public portrayal of children and teachers with that found in practice. It draws upon evidence from schools in Scotland and England, giving insight into the achievements and challenges of individual institutions. An intimate account is constructed using the journals maintained by Martin Ware, the superintendent of a North London school, alongside a cache of letters that children sent him. This combination of personal and national perspectives adds nuance to the narratives often imposed upon historic philanthropic movements.

Investigating how children responded to the evangelistic messages and educational opportunities ragged schools offered, this book will be of keen interest to historians of education, emigration, religion, as well as of the nineteenth century more broadly.

‘Laura Mair has written a book on the history of education in which the views of the schoolchildren can be heard. The Ragged Schools of the mid-nineteenth century, she shows, proved popular with their pupils for rescuing them from grinding poverty and giving them Christian guidelines for life.’ – David Bebbington, Professor of History, University of Stirling, UK

‘Laura Mair’s book on the history of ragged schooling is unique. Its detailed analysis of the diaries of Martin Ware and the correspondence between him and children formerly in his care is both illuminating and poignant. This is an important book, which historians of childhood in the nineteenth century will need to take note of.’ – Stephen G. Parker, Professor of the History of Religion and Education, University of Worcester, UK


‘Laura Mair has written a book on the history of education in which the views of the schoolchildren can be heard. The Ragged Schools of the mid-nineteenth century, she shows, proved popular with their pupils for rescuing them from grinding poverty and giving them Christian guidelines for life.’ – David Bebbington, Professor of History, University of Stirling, UK

‘Laura Mair’s book on the history of ragged schooling is unique. Its detailed analysis of the diaries of Martin Ware and the correspondence between him and children formerly in his care is both illuminating and poignant. This is an important book, which historians of childhood in the nineteenth century will need to take note of.’ – Stephen G. Parker, Professor of the History of Religion and Education, University of Worcester, UK

ISBN: 9780815394600

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 498g

240 pages