NRS-2646 | Minute books [Council of Education]

These volumes contain minutes of weekly and extraordinary meetings of the Council which show: meeting dates and members present; a brief precis of each matter tabled; and the Council's decision on each matter. Business dealt with by the Council included: applications for the establishment of public, provisional and half-time schools (and the specification of conditions to be met prior to the provision of aid); correspondence concerning teacher appointments, transfers, resignations and removals, and the institution of enquiries into complaints against teachers; consideration of appointments to Local School Boards and submissions received from Boards requesting financial assistance for alterations to school premises; applications from teachers and District Inspectors for closure of public and denominational schools (attendance having fallen below statutory requirements); Inspectors' reports concerning qualifications of teachers nominated by Local School Boards, school inspections, examinations of teachers and pupil-teachers, teacher classifications and the suitability of building sites; Architect's memoranda regarding the building, alteration and repair of public and certified denominational schools and reports on building tenders submitted; Examiner's reports and memoranda concerning the examination and classification of teachers and pupil-teachers at the Training School; and applications for employment under the Council. Estimates of expenditure and weekly cashier's statements of cheques issued were also tabled, and at each meeting the Council ratified the President's minutes (business dealt with by the President between Council meetings). Minutes of Council meetings held before March 1868, and between March 1869 and mid June 1871, are missing. The functions of the Council ceased on 31 April 1880, the provisions of the Public Instruction Act (1880) taking effect. 1868-69, 1871-80 (1/448-55). 8 vols. Note: This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.