NRS-16860 | Observation Books [Johnson's Creek Public School]

The purpose of the observation book was for the Inspector to record general remarks about the management of the school, the relationships and discipline within it and the range and effectiveness of the teaching. The Regulations under the Public Schools Act, 1866 noted “The Inspector’s remarks upon the state of the school visited by him, will be entered in the “Observation Book” of the school, which, as a School Record, should be carefully preserved. Entries therein are not to be erased or altered.” (Regulations adopted by the Council of Education on 27 February 1867, s. 83)Prior to 1939, these volumes were written up by hand, and are printed in an appropriate format. Four pages (three in earlier volumes) are allowed for each report, which is headed by the name of the school and the date of inspection. The report is then divided into four main areas: attendance, organisation, discipline and instruction. From 1939, the majority of entries made in these volumes are entered on a specifically designed form, which is then pasted into the observation book. The form details the school and the inspection date, which was normally only once a year. The form is divided into three main areas: organisation, government and instruction.‘Attendance’ is a brief section in which the number present on the day of inspection, the total enrolment at the school and the name of the teacher are recorded.The ‘organisation’ section pertains to the school’s equipment, beautification programs, staff direction, records, educational agencies, smoothness and effectiveness of general management, and the standing of the school in relation to the general community.‘Discipline’ covers observations on the pupils’ behaviour, manners, and standards of neatness in both their work and their persons. Remarks on physical training may also be included here.‘Government’ comments on relations between staff and students, effectiveness of discipline in fostering ideals of conduct and stimulating independent thought and activity, and the socialising influence of the school on its pupils. ‘Instruction’, or general survey evaluates the co-ordination of lesson courses, preparation, general speech-training, teaching methods and their effectiveness in promoting intellectual growth and development, and an appreciation of the higher cultural values.From 1939 until 1942 the form also includes a section headed Physical Training, which may also appear in reports for 1943 where old stocks of the forms have been used.Reports appear in these volumes annually until 1941, biennially from 1943 until 1949, annually again from 1951 until 1957 (except that there is no report for 1954) and thereafter only in 1961. The school’s Visitors’ Book for this period (1/8951) confirms that the Inspector made only “advisory,” “supervisory” or “incidental” visits to the school in the years not represented here, except for 1958, where the Visitors’ Book entry is equivocal. The first page of the report for 1956 is now missing.

本督学观察簿的用途，是供学校督学记录学校管理、校内人际秩序与纪律状况，以及教学范畴与成效等综合评述。根据1866年《公立学校法案》制定的条例明确规定："督学对其所视察学校的评述，须记入该校的‘观察簿’中；该簿作为学校档案，应妥善保管，其中的记录不得涂改或篡改。"（该条例由教育委员会于1867年2月27日通过，第83条）

1939年之前，此类卷宗均以手写形式留存，现以适配格式印刷。每份报告预留四页（早期卷宗为三页），首页标注学校名称与视察日期。报告分为四大核心板块：出勤、管理、纪律与教学。

1939年起，多数记录改为填写专用表单，再将表单粘贴至观察簿中。表单需载明学校名称与视察日期，此类视察通常每年仅开展一次。表单分为三大核心板块：管理、治理与教学。

"出勤"板块为简短小节，用于记录视察当日到校人数、学校总注册人数及对应教师姓名。

"管理"板块涵盖学校设备配置、校园美化计划、教职工统筹管理、档案留存、教育机构协作、整体管理的顺畅性与成效，以及学校在社区中的声誉与地位。

"纪律"板块涵盖对学生行为举止、作业与个人仪容整洁标准的观察评述，亦可纳入体育训练相关评价内容。

"治理"板块则评述教职工与学生间的关系、纪律体系在培育行为理念、激发独立思考与实践活动方面的成效，以及学校对学生的社会化影响。

"教学"板块，即综合概览，评估课程体系的协调性、备课质量、通用言语训练、教学方法，以及其在促进智力成长与发展、提升对高层次文化价值认知方面的成效。

1939年至1942年，表单增设"体育训练"板块；1943年的报告中若仍有旧版表单库存，也会保留该板块内容。

此类报告的发布频率为：1941年前按年度发布，1943年至1949年改为每两年一次，1951年至1957年恢复年度发布（1954年无对应报告），1961年仅发布一次。此时期该校的访客簿（档案编号1/8951）显示，在无对应报告的年份中，督学仅对该校开展"咨询性""监督性"或"临时性"视察；仅1958年的访客簿记录存在歧义。1956年的报告首页现已佚失。