NRS-17214 | Visitors' Books [Waratah Orthopaedic Hospital 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 the Waratah Orthopaedic Hospital School is currently represented by a single volume, which records visitors to the school during the years 1961-1964 and 1967. Between 1961 and 1964 this volume records several group visits to the school, including a number of visitors from overseas; individual overseas visitors also appear. A large party from Jesmond Public School signed the volume in 1961, and that year’s Education Week Open Day was very well attended. The year 1963 saw groups of nurses from Cessnock and Maitland Hospitals, a party of hospital administrators from the University of New South Wales, and a group of seven teachers from various Hunter District schools. In 1964 the school was examined by several tutors from Uganda, a large body of visitors from the Crippled Children’s Association, and a party of trainee School Counsellors. The only visitors recorded during 1962 are the Inspector of Schools on his usual annual visit and two teachers from West Africa.The Director of Education (Newcastle) visited the school in August, 1963.