First Boys Sunday School, Gloucester
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First Boys Sunday School, Gloucester
A view of what was reputed to be Englands first Boys Sunday School set up at Gloucester by Robert Raikes in around 1780. Date: Date unknown
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 8200323
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10636107
1780 Englands Gloucester Raikes Reputed Sunday
EDITORS COMMENTS
This image offers a glimpse into the history of education in England, specifically the establishment of the first Boys Sunday School in Gloucester around 1780. The photograph, although the exact date remains unknown, showcases the quaint and humble setting of this groundbreaking institution. Robert Raikes, a local philanthropist and newspaper publisher, is credited with founding this school. Raikes, deeply concerned about the moral and spiritual wellbeing of the working class children in his community, sought to provide them with an alternative to idleness and mischief on Sundays. The establishment of the Boys Sunday School marked a significant shift in the educational landscape, as it was the first of its kind to offer free education to working-class boys. The photograph reveals a simple, yet orderly classroom filled with young boys, attentively listening to their teacher. The boys, dressed in their Sunday best, sit on wooden benches, their eyes focused on the instructor at the front of the room. The teacher, likely a volunteer, stands at the chalkboard, pointing to a lesson, while a young assistant helps another student. The atmosphere in the room is one of focus and determination, as these boys, many of whom would have spent their weekdays laboring in factories or working in their families' trades, were afforded the opportunity to learn. The Boys Sunday School not only provided these children with essential literacy skills, but also instilled in them a love for learning and a sense of community. This photograph is a testament to the power of education and the vision of one man who saw the potential in every child, regardless of their social or economic background. The Boys Sunday School in Gloucester paved the way for the widespread adoption of free, compulsory education in England, ultimately shaping the future of generations to come.
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