NRS-18559 | Visitors' Book [Dumaresq 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 entered their names and any remarks they deemed appropriate.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), sewing instruction, open days, school inspection, medical inspection, departmental officers visiting on business e.g. to inspect the buildings or equipment, and guest speakers.