NRS-613 | Miscellaneous letters received

This is the main series of letters received by the Board of National Education, dealing chiefly with the establishment, maintenance and inspection of National and non-vested National Schools, and the provision of teachers and teaching material. More specifically, letters received include: petitions, applications and related documents received from local committees requesting that existing schools (including denominational schools) be placed under the patronage of the Board, or that National Schools be established within districts. Related documents include nominations of teaching staff (by local committees and patrons), schedules of prospective school-children (showing for each child, name, age, religion, father's occupation etc.), and minutes of public meetings held to consider making application to the Board for the establishment of National Schools; applications for teaching positions, complaints against teachers, and correspondence relating to the appointment, resignation, and retirement of teachers and pupil-teachers; agents' reports (1849-51), detailing assistance given to local organisers in obtaining support for the National System, encouraging the convening of public meetings, and assisting local patrons in obtaining the Board's support in the establishment of National Schools; prior to 1862, Inspectors' reports on applications for the establishment of National Schools and non-vested National Schools; miscellaneous letters received from Roman Catholic and Presbyterian catechists (monthly returns); from the Surveyor General (concerning the surveying of intended sites for National Schools); from the Secretaries of the Education Office, Dublin (concerning the Board's application for books and a Training Master); from the Board's Architect (Henry Robertson) and local promoters (concerning school sites, designs of and alterations to school premises); from teachers and Local Patrons (regarding repairs to school premises and the supply of books and teaching equipment); from contractors (submitting tenders); and from Inspectors (Joint reports of Inspectors' Conferences "relating to the administration of the National System, the conduct of schools, and the qualifications of Teachers"); letters received from William Wilkins in his capacity as, successively, Headmaster of the Model School, Inspector and Superintendent, and Chief Inspector; and teachers' examination (classification) reports received from the Board's Examiners (ie. the Head Master of the Model School and District Inspectors).(1/381-443B; microfilm copy SR Reels 4001-4038). 66 vols. Note:This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.