NRS-17129 | Visitors' Books [Neath 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. Occasionally visitors (particularly Inspectors) remarked briefly on the conduct or the ambience of the school.Until the end of 1960 the majority of vistors are clergy who attended the school in order to provide religious instruction to the pupils. After 1960, clergy signatures cease (except for an isolated example in 1967), making it seem probable that from this time the school maintained a separate Visiting Clergy Book.Other regular signatories include the Inspectors of Schools, on their regular visits of inspection, Officers of the Child Welfare Department, Police Lecturers, representatives of Dr Barnardo’s Homes and (from 1954) Physical Education Supervisors. Occasional visits are also made by School Counsellors and Medical Officers, officials of the Department of Health, and by representatives of the Junior Red Cross and the Commonwealth Bank.The school hosted Teachers’ Conferences and District Inspector’s Meetings in August, 1968, February, 1969, February, 1970 and in March and June of 1971. In April, 1952, the school was visited by the Deputy Shire President and Shire Clerk, and in September, 1954 by the Director of Education (Newcastle). The Mayor of Cessnock was present at the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1966.Members of the general public have signed the book as visitors to the school’s Education Week Open Days in 1956 and from 1959 until 1971, the year of the closure of the school. In 1966 the school celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Education Week, and in 1969 illness amongst the pupils caused the event to be postponed from August until December.The earlier of the two surviving volumes concludes with the annotation “New Book Commenced, 28th September, 1967” over the signature of the contemporary Teacher-in-Charge.