NRS-19825 | Visitors' book [Glenrock Public School]

The Public Instruction Act, 1866 authorised special religious instruction by visiting clergymen and their delegates (Public Schools Act, 1866, s. 19), and regulations under the Act authorised members of the public to visit schools during ‘the hours of secular instruction’ to observe teaching methods, teaching material and equipment (Regulations adopted by the Council of Education on 27 February 1867, s. 84-85). The regulations required every teacher to keep a visitors’ book ‘in which visitors may enter their names and if they think proper any remarks. Such remarks the Teachers are by no means to erase or alter.’ (Regulations … s. 86). The purpose of the visitors’ book was to create a record of the persons other than pupils or teachers who attended the school during business hours. Visitors’ books were divided into three columns – date, name and remarks. The remarks usually recorded the purpose of the visit which included religious instruction (by far the most usual purpose for visiting a school), school inspection, medical inspection, departmental officers visiting on business e.g. to inspect the buildings or equipment, and guest speakers. A noticeable feature of this series is the recording of visitors to the school on successive Education Days.

1866年《公共教育法》（Public Instruction Act, 1866）授权来访牧师及其代表开展专项宗教教育（依据1866年《公立学校法》第19条）；该法案项下的多项条例则授权社会公众可在“世俗教育时段”入校观摩教学方法、教材及教学设备（1867年2月27日教育委员会通过的条例第84-85条）。上述条例要求所有教师必须设置访客登记簿，“访客可在此登记姓名，若认为合适亦可填写留言。教师绝对不得删除或修改此类留言”（同上条例第86条）。访客登记簿的设立初衷，是记录工作日期间除学生与教师外入校人员的相关信息。访客登记簿共设三栏——日期、姓名及留言。留言栏通常会记录访客入校事由，其中宗教教育（为最常见的入校目的）、学校检查、医疗检查、部门官员因公入校（如检查校舍或设备）以及特邀演讲者到访均属此类。该系列档案的一个显著特征，是连续记录了各教育日入校的访客信息。