John Pounds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Pounds
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Published by Bouvé & Sharp, 221 Washington St., Boston, c. 1843-1845
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| Born | 17 June 1766 |
| Died | 1 January 1839 (aged 72) |
John Pounds (born June 17, 1766 – died January 1, 1839) was a very kind teacher from Portsmouth, England. He is known for starting the idea of "Ragged Schools." These were special schools for poor children. After John Pounds died, a man named Thomas Guthrie wrote a book about Ragged Schools. He said that John Pounds was the first person to have this amazing idea.
John Pounds: A Helping Hand
John Pounds had a tough start in life. When he was a teenager, he had a bad accident. He fell into a dry dock at Portsmouth Dockyard. This accident left him badly injured. Because of his injuries, he could no longer work building ships. Instead, he became a shoemaker. This was how he earned his living.
His Special Classroom
John Pounds used his small shoemaking workshop as a classroom. He would walk the streets of Portsmouth. He looked for children who were poor and had no home. He invited them to his workshop. There, he taught them important skills. These included basic reading, writing, and simple math.
Sometimes, as many as 40 children would be in his small workshop at once. John would even carry simple food, like baked potatoes. He used these to attract the children. He wanted to make sure they had something to eat while they learned. He truly cared about helping them.
A Local Hero's Legacy
Many years after his death, John Pounds became a local hero. People in his hometown of Portsmouth remember him. In 1999, a local newspaper gave him a special award. He won "Man of the Millennium." This was a big honor. He won over other famous people from Portsmouth. These included Admiral Lord Nelson and Charles Dickens.
A church in Old Portsmouth is named after him. It is a Unitarian chapel. His life was also celebrated in a special musical story. It was called Greatheart: The Story of John Pounds. This was written by the Rev. Carey Bonner.
In 2005, the John Pounds Centre opened in Queen Street, Portsmouth. This center helps people live healthier lives. It offers learning, physical, and social activities. Until 1975, there was also a girls' school named after him. It was in Portsea. Now, that building is a community centre. John Pounds' kindness still helps people today.
