The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-31 00:00:00

RAGGED SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society, was held last
,night
in the Domestic Mission House, Bedford street, Toxteth
Park. The chair was occupied by Henry Jevons, Esqr.,
and among the other gentlemen present, were the Rev.
Mr,-Martineau, Rev. Mr. Chancing, See.
The coneideralon of the annual report was the chief
businees before the meeting. It was as follows, and was
unanimously adopted :
The committee of the Lieerpool Ragged School Society,
in presenting their 10th annual report to its friends and
supporters. desire to express their satisfaction at the con-
tinued efficiency and steady operation of the schools entrusted
to their supervision and care.
The management of the boys' school continues as before—
via., under Mr. Jenes (of the Domestic Mission Society),
aided by Mr. Davis, whilst in that of the girls' school a
chinee in the superintendence has been occasioned by the
enarneee cf Miss Rowe, the late mistress, and the appoint-
ment of h-r sister, Miss Jsne Rowe, as her successor, who,
since July last, aided by the faithful labours of Miss
Mitrphy as eseistant mis:rees, continues the !school in
pfogressive improvement.
1,1 retrence to the boys' school, the committee desire to
express their sense of the valuable aid of Mr. John Graham,
who, for three or four evenings of the week, ttlrougholt the
year, has generously given his attendwice and assistarce,
To quote from a previous rereeee--,1 They would urge upon
the friends of the echoole •
cbe importance of more frequently
visiting them. See;r, vi
sits are alike encouraging to the
teachrrs and
; eeholars, and the assistance that might be
b":`"-...,17 given by visitors taking charge of classes would
.er the greatest value.'
`There has been a slight increme in the attendance as
compared with the previous year, the average of the last
three months being 61 boys and 45 girls.
It is evident that the scholars .of ragged schools are of a
totally different cless from those who attend the ordinary
die schools, and it will also be clear that even these chit-
'Oen are very susceptible of good influences, and of powers
wYeb ariely repay cultivation ; that highly encouraging
ffe. (,-; the education given have already been apparent.
:Marie cf the elder children h rye made considerable
ituttrovement; and there appears to be an almost general
;desire in them to acquire knowledge that may be useful
in the different branches of labour in which they are
engaeed,

It will be satisfactory to the friends of the schools to
learn, as illustrative of the necessity tor such an institution,
clod the experience of the teachers during the last twelve
Months warrants their asserting, that there has been a larger
proporion of ragged and destitute children in the schools,
anxions to acquire the knowledge of reading and writing,
than there .has been in any previous year. It would be a
very easy matter to increase the number of children in both
s heels, froth a class whose parents can afford to pay day
ethool fees, and many of whom attend schools during the
'day ; but the teachers use all possible caution in the
selection of applicants, so as not in any • case to encourage
mean dependence, or, on the other hand, to exclude those
'children who, in consequence of-the intemperate and vicious
jeabifa of their parents, are abandoned by them, and exposed
'to the various temptations which surround them.
In the belief that while religion is the true basis of all
education in that offered to this class of children, it is
iodispensable. Your committee, at the close of the year,
resolved upon a more intimate connection with the existing
Sunday SchoOls of the Domestic Mission Society ; and they
feel pleasure in hearing from the conductors of those schools
that a marked improvement has taken place in their
Attendance, arising mainly from the influx of those con-
nected wi h our existing schools. . _

The committee have to express their regret at losing the
co-operation of-the Rev. Francis Bishop, his removal from
)Liverpool to another sphere of usefulness necessitating his
r(...ignation of the office of secretary, a post he has ably and
!and efficiently filled for several kpast years, and largely
'contributed to the prosperity of this society.
Of the moral improvement produced upon the objects of
*lrrir solicitude the committee desire to speak with diffidence,
but not without hope. To the Great Searcher of Hearts
above can be known the depth to which any seeds of
goodness they have attempted to sow may have taken root ;
bat when. as in many ctrses. some of.the most neglected of
the children of this large town a'a seen coming willingly.
and with tolerable regularity, to school, exhibiting a marked
change in the greater cleanliness of their Persons, iknproving
'greenly in Teadi6g, writing, figures, and general kairwledge,
sand exhibiting in general sufficient self control behave
in an orderly manner, unawed by the fear of pa .shment,
those who have watched this process trust that they may
discard the fear that their labours and desires will be
tiablest in those higher aims to which all education, whether
Secular or religiou3, should tend."