Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-06 00:00:00

XIRKDALE INDUSTRIAL RAGGED

SCHOOLS.

A meeting was held last night, in St. Mary's Schools,
Kirkdale, having for its object to interest the working
classes in the proposal to erect new ragged schools in
that district. There was a numerous attendance, con-
sisting principally of that class to whom an especial ap-
peal was made ; and amongst the gentlemen present
were the Rev. Mr. Lester, the incumbent of St. Mary's ;
the Rev. Mr. Appleton, chaplain of Walton gaol ; Capt.
Gibbs, governor of Walton gaol ; Mr. Alderman Dover,
Mr. Coates, Mr. Samuelson, &c.
Mr. LESTER, in opening the proceedings, said that
about three years ago, those who had originated the
ragged school movement in that district had noticed the
numbers of children wandering about the streets, and
they had found it impossible to get them to
go to the national school, because they pleaded
that their appearance would prevent them from
going, and that their parents were unable to provide the
money required to be paid. He had seen Mr. Charles
Groves, who having heard, his suggestion that a ragged
school should be commenced, concurred in the proposi-
tion, subscribed himself, and undertook to get others to
subscribe. As soon as they opened the school, 40 children
entered, and the numbers soon increased to 150, which
compelled them to take the lower room. They had now
350 children on an average attending the schools, and
required more school accommodation, and a playground.
The present school could not be enlarged, and they must
therefore remove. ' Mr. John Shaw Leigh had agreed to
give a thousand square yards of land for a school and
playground—(applause)—and the Earl of Derby had
consented to lay the foundation stone: Mr. Blezard had
agreed to give £2OO, at least, and £6O had been the result
of distributing some circulars and cards among the ladies
in the neighbouring townships, and now they wanted
the assistance of the working men, who were necessary
to the undertaking. There were, he said, 2,000 houses
in Kirkdale for the working classes, in which, on an
average, two families resided, and if each family would
subscribe a penny a week, in twelvd months they
would obtain £9OO of the £2,000 which the schools
would' cost. The object of that meeting was to give
the working classes an opportunity of expressing their
sympathy for their poorer brethren, and of showing
that they felt as much for the poor ragged children on
the street as the rich man. (Applause.) It was said,
and he wished his remarks to be made known, that they
did not confine themselves to the education of ragged
children, but before persons made that charge they should
enquire into the circumstances, as respectable-looking
children might have exceedingly poor parents, as it was
generally found that the most squalid children were the
offspring of masons, and ship carpenters, and mechanics,
who earned good wages, but spent all in drink. Surely
they would endeavour to provide a refuge and an educa-
tion for these poor children, and to extend the blessings
of civilisation on all sides of them. (Applause.) He
hoped to see the foundation stone laid by Easter.
(Applause.)
Mr. Alderman DOVER said he did not think he was
addressing those who would be primarily 'benefited,
though they would all be indirectly benefited, but they
had been called together, not so much for the _purpose of
assisting themselves, as of assisting others. He thought
something practical should be the result of that meeting,
and he would therefore propose that a number of persons
in that meeting should undertake to collect a pound each,
and if, when the foundation stone was laid, a hundred
pounds were so collected, lie would meet it with another
hundred. (Loud applause.)
The Rev. Mr. Appleton and other gentleman spoke
in support of the movement, and, before the meeting
closed, thirty-nine working men volunteered to collect
and subscribe.