Plea for Ragged Schools; or, Prevention Better than Cure
Author: first_name: Thomas
last_name: Guthrie
Language: English
Year: 1847

The Reverend Thomas Guthrie was first introduced to the idea of ragged schools in 1841, while acting as the Parish Minister of St. John's Church in Edinburgh. On a visit to Portsmouth, he saw a picture of John Pounds and felt inspired and humbled by the crippled cobbler's work. Pounds had been injured in a shipbuilding accident at the age of 15.  He later became a shoemaker and, in 1818, he began teaching poor children without charging fees. He actively recruited children and young people to his