Ragged School Movement

The Ragged School Movement was a 19th-century effort to provide free education to impoverished children who often worked long hours and lacked access to formal schooling. Established mainly in Britain, these schools aimed to give disadvantaged kids basic literacy, numeracy, and moral instruction, helping them escape the cycle of poverty. Volunteers and charities funded and operated these schools, emphasizing accessible education as a means of social improvement. The movement played a significant role in expanding public education and highlighting the importance of schooling for all children, regardless of their social or economic background.