John Pounds (17 June 1766 – 1 January 1839) was a teacher and altruist born in Portsmouth, and the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged schools.[1] 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.
John Pounds
Published by Bouvé & Sharp, 221 Washington St., Boston, c. 1843-1845
Pounds was severely crippled in his mid-teens, from falling into a dry dock at Portsmouth Dockyard, where he was apprenticed as a shipwright.[2] He could no longer work at the dockyard, and from then onward made his living as a shoemaker.
He would scour the streets of Portsmouth looking for children who were poor and homeless, taking them into 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. John carried with him simple food items like baked potatoes to attract children.[3]
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.
A unitarian chapel named in his memory stands in Old Portsmouth[4] and his life was celebrated in a sacred cantata Greatheart: The Story of John Pounds, by the Rev. Carey Bonner. In 2005, the John Pounds Centre was opened in Queen Street, Portsmouth to encourage "a happier and healthier lifestyle, should that be through learning, physical or social activities."[5] Until 1975 there was a girl's secondary modern in Portsea named after him:[6] it is now a community centre.[7]
^The accident happened 18 days after the death of his father. A double tragedy Coats, A. (Portsmouth Dockyard Historian) pp. 22-24 in "The Life and Times of John Pounds of Portsmouth: Originator of Ragged Schools" Worthington, G. (ed): Portsmouth, John Pounds of Portsmouth Heritage Appeal, 2007, ISBN978-0955499005
^Memorials and Monuments in Old Portsmouth (John Pounds Memorial Church) 2012-04-10 at the Wayback Machine
john, pounds, june, 1766, january, 1839, teacher, altruist, born, portsmouth, most, responsible, creation, concept, ragged, schools, after, pounds, death, thomas, guthrie, often, credited, with, creation, ragged, schools, wrote, plea, ragged, schools, proclaim. John Pounds 17 June 1766 1 January 1839 was a teacher and altruist born in Portsmouth and the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged schools 1 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 John PoundsPublished by Bouve amp Sharp 221 Washington St Boston c 1843 1845Born17 June 1766Portsmouth EnglandDied1 January 1839 aged 72 Portsmouth EnglandPounds was severely crippled in his mid teens from falling into a dry dock at Portsmouth Dockyard where he was apprenticed as a shipwright 2 He could no longer work at the dockyard and from then onward made his living as a shoemaker He would scour the streets of Portsmouth looking for children who were poor and homeless taking them into 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 John carried with him simple food items like baked potatoes to attract children 3 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 A unitarian chapel named in his memory stands in Old Portsmouth 4 and his life was celebrated in a sacred cantata Greatheart The Story of John Pounds by the Rev Carey Bonner In 2005 the John Pounds Centre was opened in Queen Street Portsmouth to encourage a happier and healthier lifestyle should that be through learning physical or social activities 5 Until 1975 there was a girl s secondary modern in Portsea named after him 6 it is now a community centre 7 Notes Edit The History of Ragged Schools The accident happened 18 days after the death of his father A double tragedy Coats A Portsmouth Dockyard Historian pp 22 24 in The Life and Times of John Pounds of Portsmouth Originator of Ragged Schools Worthington G ed Portsmouth John Pounds of Portsmouth Heritage Appeal 2007 ISBN 978 0955499005 Memorials and Monuments in Old Portsmouth John Pounds Memorial Church Archived 2012 04 10 at the Wayback Machine John Pounds Memorial Unitarian Church John Pounds centre about us Archived from the original on 3 January 2013 Retrieved 30 August 2012 National Archives John Pounds Centre Archived 2013 01 03 at the Wayback MachineFurther reading EditHenry Hawkes Recollections of John Pounds 1884 books google com J F Fyfe John Pounds in The Progressive English Reading Books books google com Roland Everett Jayne The Story of John Pounds Founder of Ragged Schools Epworth Press 1925 External links Edit Pounds John Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Pounds amp oldid 1145706615, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
