NRS-17126 | Comments and Suggestions Books [Neath Public School]

The purpose of the Comments and Suggestions Book is defined by the notice inside its front cover, as follows:“This book is for the purpose of recording such comments and suggestions on the work of each member of the staff, favourable or otherwise, as are deemed appropriate. “These remarks should be made in clear and concise terms. The Teacher concerned should read and attach his initials to what has been recorded regarding his work.”Comments and Suggestions Books contain detailed comments on the state and progress of each class in the school, including evaluations of the pupils’ performance in the various subjects taught, the teacher’s proficiency (or otherwise), character and general deportment, the needs of the class generally and the needs of particular pupils. These comments are made by the Headmaster or the Deputy Headmaster, normally, but not invariably, in July and December in the aftermath of the half-yearly and yearly examinations; at an earlier period, it was expected that they would be made quarterly. They may be either in the form of typescript sheets pasted into the volume, handwritten reports entered directly onto its pages, or printed forms filled in as appropriate by the Headmaster or his Deputy.The surviving volume in this series contains reports for the periods 1913 until the end of 1916, from 1931 until 1936, and from the end of 1939 until 1954, and one folder of largely typescript reports on printed forms, which covers the years from 1955 until 1962. Reports are given quarterly until the end of 1916, and six-monthly from 1931 until 1962, except that reports appear for each term in 1949 and 1962. One report appears to be missing for each of the years 1952, 1955, 1956 and 1957, and no reports are present for 1958; on the other hand, analyses of examinations accompany the reports for 1961 and 1962. The school had a complement of two teachers during the periods covered by these reports, but by the time of its closure at the end of 1971 it had become a one-teacher school.