Robert Raikes catechism. Raikes used the paper to publicise the schools and bore most of the cost in the early years. The movement began in July 1780 in the home of a Mrs Meredith. Only boys attended, and she heard the lessons of the older boys who coached the younger. Later, girls also attended. Within two years, several schools opened in and around Gloucester. He published an account on 3 November 1783 of Sunday schools in his paper, and later word of the work spread through the "Gentleman's Magazine", and in 1784, a letter to the "Arminian Magazine". The original schedule for
Robert Raikes the schools, as written by Raikes was ""The children were to come after ten in the morning, and stay till twelve; they were then to go home and return at one; and after reading a lesson, they were to be conducted to Church. After Church, they were to be employed in repeating the catechism till after five, and then dismissed, with an injunction to go home without making a noise."" There were disputes about the movement in the early years. The schools were derisively called ""Raikes' Ragged School"". Criticisms raised included that it would weaken home-based religious education, that it