Sunday, January 30, 2011

Robin Hood in the Oxford way

It is time for the final virtue on my quest in Oxford, which is justice. The building on the picture is home to the Ss Mary & John School at Hertford Street in East Oxford. This school and the surrounding area were once known as the Robin Hood School and area. I haven't been able to find out when exactly but it must have been somewhere between 1868 when the school was opened and the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 19th century the school was very beneficial to several children who for various reasons could not go to the national school. Initially children had to pay fees to attend the school, and in the early years of the school children were absent occasionally as their fees were not paid. It is here where the justice and Robin Hood part comes into play. Relieving Officers played a modern Robin Hood role and paid fees for some of these children. They did justice for in my opinion every child should be able to attend school, whether you can pay the fees or not. With this example drawing on the Robin Hood legend I have completed my search for the seven virtues in Oxford.

2 comments:

june in florida said...

You did good, very interesting,thank you.

Petrea Burchard said...

A wonderful story, well told.