John Pounds
Encyclopedia
John Pounds was a teacher and altruist born in Portsmouth
, and the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged school
s. After Pounds' death, Thomas Guthrie
(often credited with the creation of Ragged Schools) wrote his Plea for Ragged Schools and proclaimed John Pounds as the originator of this idea :).
Pounds was severely crippled in his mid-teens, from falling into a dry dock at Portsmouth Dockyard, where he was apprenticed as a shipwright. He could no longer work at the dockyard, and from then onwards made his living as a shoemaker.
He would scour the streets of Portsmouth looking for children who were poor and homeless, taking them in to his small workshop and teaching them basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills. This small workshop was often host to as many as 40 children at any one time.
Many years after his death, John Pounds has become a local hero in his birthplace of Portsmouth, winning a "Man of the Millennium" award in 1999 from a local newspaper, ahead of nationally more famous local heroes including Admiral Lord Nelson and Charles Dickens
.
Today a unitarian
chapel named in his memory stands in Old Portsmouth
.
His life was celebrated in a sacred cantata Greatheart: The Story of John Pounds, by the Rev Carey Bonner
.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, and the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged school
Ragged school
Ragged Schools were charitable schools dedicated to the free education of destitute children in 19th century England. The schools were developed in working class districts of the rapidly expanding industrial towns...
s. After Pounds' death, Thomas Guthrie
Thomas Guthrie
Thomas Guthrie D.D. was a Scottish divine and philanthropist, born at Brechin in Angus . He was one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, and was associated with many forms of philanthropy - especially temperance and Ragged Schools, of which he was a founder.He studied at Edinburgh...
(often credited with the creation of Ragged Schools) wrote his Plea for Ragged Schools and proclaimed John Pounds as the originator of this idea :).
Pounds was severely crippled in his mid-teens, from falling into a dry dock at Portsmouth Dockyard, where he was apprenticed as a shipwright. He could no longer work at the dockyard, and from then onwards made his living as a shoemaker.
He would scour the streets of Portsmouth looking for children who were poor and homeless, taking them in to his small workshop and teaching them basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills. This small workshop was often host to as many as 40 children at any one time.
Many years after his death, John Pounds has become a local hero in his birthplace of Portsmouth, winning a "Man of the Millennium" award in 1999 from a local newspaper, ahead of nationally more famous local heroes including Admiral Lord Nelson and Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
.
Today a unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
chapel named in his memory stands in Old Portsmouth
Old Portsmouth
Old Portsmouth is a district of the city of Portsmouth. It is the area covered by the original town of Portsmouth as planned by Jean de Gisors. It is situated in the south west corner of Portsea Island....
.
His life was celebrated in a sacred cantata Greatheart: The Story of John Pounds, by the Rev Carey Bonner
Carey Bonner
Carey Bonner, Rev was a Baptist minister who served as the General Secretary of the National Sunday School Union from 1900 until 1929 and as Joint Secretary of the World Sunday School Association. He was born in Southwark, Surrey. A composer and hymnist, he wrote and arranged hymns, choral works...
.
Further reading
- Henry HawkesHenry HawkesHenry Hawkes B.A., FLS. was an English unitarian clergyman and author. He is best known for his memoir of the ragged schools originator John Pounds , to whom he was introduced in 1833, soon after arriving in Portsmouth to serve as a minister. His published works include sermons and The...
, Recollections of John Pounds, 1884, books.google.com - J. F. Fyfe, John Pounds, in: The Progressive English Reading Books: books.google.com
- Roland Everett JayneRoland Everett JayneRoland Everett Jayne was a Methodist clergyman and biographer. He is noted for two biographies: Jonas Hanway: Philanthropist, Politician and Author and The Story of John Pounds, Founder of Ragged Schools . He served as Methodist Minister in Portsmouth.- Source :COPAC...
, The Story of John Pounds: Founder of Ragged Schools, Epworth Press, 1925.