NRS-16991 | Visitors' Book [Sandgate Infants' 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. Occasionally visitors (particularly Inspectors) remarked briefly on the conduct or the ambience of the school.The series from Sandgate Infants’ School consists of a single volume, which covers the entire period of the school’s operation from its opening in 1942 until its closure in 1969. Until the end of 1967 visiting clergy were recorded in this volume, but from the beginning of 1968 the school maintained a separate Visiting Clergy Book for this purpose Visiting clergy are, nonetheless, the dominant element in this record. Other regular signatories in this book are the Inspectors of Schools, Police Lecturers, School Medical and Dental Officers and Physical Education instructors. Less frequent visits are paid by School Counsellors, representatives of Dr Barnardo’s Homes and the Junior Red Cross and, during the 1960’s, the Branch Librarian from Mayfield.The volume also records the names of those who attended the school’s Arbor Day celebrations and Children’s Christmas Party in 1943, and the annual meeting of the Mothers’ Club, the annual visit of the Red Cross Commissioner and the Children’s Concert in 1944.

1866年《公共教育法（Public Instruction Act, 1866）》授权来访牧师及其代表开展特殊宗教教育（1866年《公立学校法（Public Schools Act, 1866）》第19条）；该法案配套制定的条例则允许公众在“世俗教育时段”入校参观，观察教学方法、教材与设备（1867年2月27日教育委员会（Council of Education）通过的条例第84-85条）。该条例要求每位教师必须设置访客簿（visitors’ book），“访客可在此簿登记姓名，若认为合适亦可留下评论，教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类评论”（条例……第86条）。访客簿的设立目的是记录非学生与教师的、在学校运营时段到访的人员信息。访客簿分为三栏：日期、姓名与评论。评论内容通常记录到访目的，包括宗教教育（这是最常见的到访缘由）、学校视察、医疗视察、部门官员因公到访（如检查校舍或设备）以及特邀演讲者。偶尔访客（尤其是学校视察员）会简要评论学校的管理状况或校园氛围。桑德盖特幼儿学校（Sandgate Infants’ School）的该套档案仅包含单卷，涵盖该校自1942年开办至1969年关停的全部运营周期。1967年底前，来访牧师的相关信息均登记于此卷中；但自1968年起，该校另行设立了《来访牧师簿》用于登记此类信息。不过来访牧师仍是本卷档案的核心记录对象。其他在此簿上频繁签名的人员包括学校视察员、警务讲师、学校医疗与牙科官员以及体育教师。到访频次较低的群体包括学校辅导员、巴纳多博士之家（Dr Barnardo’s Homes）代表、少年红十字会成员，以及20世纪60年代期间来自梅菲尔德（Mayfield）的分馆馆员。本卷档案还记录了1943年参加该校植树节庆祝活动与儿童圣诞派对的人员名单，以及1944年母亲俱乐部年会、红十字会专员年度到访与儿童音乐会的相关人员信息。