Ragged School Musuem

This term Year 6 have visited the Ragged School Museum in Mile End. We went there as our core book is Street Child by Berlie Doherty and it is set in the Victorian times, just like the Ragged School. We went back in time to a Victorian classroom and experienced an immensely strict teacher: Miss Perkins! We learnt that they get in trouble for writing with their left hand as they think the devil is on that shoulder and were made to sit up straight for the entire lesson and if we didn’t, we would have to wear the back brace! In the 1800s children had to curl their letters or add a loop which made all letters very tricky to write. We also learnt about a man named Dr. Barnado who saw how poor children were getting treated in the Victorian times. He raised money for them and created a charity which we can still see on high streets today. He was an advocate for children’s rights and made sure everybody was treated fairly.

 After our lunch (where we had to sweep and clean the tables after ourselves just like in Victorian times) we went to Victorian house scene. In that session we learnt that they had a bath in the kitchen and that the whole family had to use the same water for a bath. Moreover they had to walk up and down to get water for their washing, which took a long time.

 We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip but are truly grateful that we don’t go to school at the Ragged School!