NRS-17185 | Visitors' Books [Segenhoe 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.Clergy signatures occur regularly in these volumes only until the end of 1960, after which time the school maintained a separate Visiting Clergy Book. Until this point, however, this element accounts for the overwhelming majority of signatures in these volumes. Other regular signatories include the Inspectors of Schools on their regular visits of inspection, Physical Education Advisors, Police Lecturers, School Counsellors and Medical and Dental Officers. During the 1960’s, a number of visits by officers of the Public Works Department are also recorded.From 1960 until 1966 the greater number of signatures are those of visitors to the school’s annual Education Week Open Days. These cease after 1966, but two signatures of Education Week visitors appear in 1973. In November, 1972, a number of Teachers-in-Charge from other schools in the district were present at Segenhoe for a gymnastics display. The MLA for Upper Hunter visited the school in both 1973 and 1974, becoming, on the latter occasion, its last recorded visitor.