NRS-17140 | Observation Books [New Lambton South Public School]

The purpose of the observation book was for the Inspector to record general remarks about the management of the school, the relationships and discipline within it and the range and effectiveness of the teaching. The Regulations under the Public Schools Act, 1866 noted “The Inspector’s remarks upon the state of the school visited by him, will be entered in the “Observation Book” of the school, which, as a School Record, should be carefully preserved. Entries therein are not to be erased or altered.” (Regulations adopted by the Council of Education on 27 February 1867, s. 83)The majority of entries made in these volumes are entered on a specifically designed form, which is then pasted into the observation book. The form details the school and the inspection date; after the later 1940’s, inspections were normally conducted biennially. The form is divided into three main areas: organisation, government and instruction.The ‘organisation’ section pertains to the school’s equipment, beautification programs, staff direction, records, educational agencies, smoothness and effectiveness of general management, and the standing of the school in relation to the general community.‘Government’ comments on relations between staff and students, effectiveness of discipline in fostering ideals of conduct and stimulating independent thought and activity, and the socialising influence of the school on its pupils. ‘Instruction’, or general survey evaluates the co-ordination of lesson courses, preparation, general speech-training, teaching methods and their effectiveness in promoting intellectual growth and development, and an appreciation of the higher cultural values.The series is currently represented by two volumes, the first two in the series. The earlier volume contains reports on the whole school from its foundation in 1950 until its division into Boys’ and Girls’ Departments at the beginning of 1954, and reports on the Boys’ Department from 1954 until 1960; the later volume contains reports on the Girls’ Department from 1954 until 1962.These volumes contain Inspectors’ reports on the whole school for the years 1950 and 1952, for the Boys’ Department in 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1960, and for the Girls’ Department in 1954, 1955 and 1957. A report for 1957, entered amongst those on the Boys’ Department, appears to apply to the whole school. This is followed in the same volume by a report on the Deputy Headmaster, dating from 1958. Physical Education reports are also given for 1950 and 1952, and one each for the Boys’ Department and the Girls’ Department in 1954. Needlework reports for the Girls’ Department appear under 1955 and 1962. A handwritten report by the Headmistress of the Girls’ Department for the year 1956 has been inserted loose in the back of the second volume.本观测簿的用途为供学校督学（Inspector）记录有关学校管理、校内人际关系与纪律状况，以及教学的范畴与成效的一般性评述。根据1866年《公立学校法案》制定的规程规定：“督学对其所视察学校状况的评述，须记入该校的‘观测簿’。该观测簿作为学校档案，应妥善保管，其中的记录不得涂改或篡改。”（该规程由教育委员会于1867年2月27日通过，第83条）本系列档案的绝大多数条目均填写于特制表单后，再粘贴至观测簿中。表单需列明学校名称与视察日期；1940年代后期起，视察通常每两年开展一次。该表单分为三大板块：组织管理、治理规范与教学实施。“组织管理”板块涵盖学校设施、美化工程、教职工管理、档案管理、教育机构协作、整体运营的顺畅性与成效，以及学校在周边社区中的声誉。“治理规范”板块评述师生关系、纪律在培育行为准则与激发独立思考与实践能力方面的成效，以及学校对学生的社会化影响。“教学实施”板块，即综合调研，评估课程体系的协调性、备课情况、通用言语训练、教学方法，以及这些要素在促进学生智力成长与发展、提升对高阶文化价值的认知方面的成效。本系列档案目前仅存两卷，即该系列的前两卷。较早的一卷涵盖1950年建校至1954年初分为男学部与女学部期间的全校视察报告，以及1954年至1960年的男学部视察报告；较晚的一卷则涵盖1954年至1962年的女学部视察报告。这两卷档案收录了以下年份的视察报告：1950年与1952年的全校报告，1954、1955、1956及1960年的男学部报告，以及1954、1955与1957年的女学部报告。其中一份标注于男学部报告下的1957年报告，实际适用于全校。本卷后续还收录了1958年的副校长视察报告。档案中还收录了1950年与1952年的体育教学报告，以及1954年男学部与女学部各一份的体育教学报告。女学部的针线手工课程报告分别收录于1955年与1962年的条目下。第二卷的末尾还夹带了一份女学部校长于1956年撰写的手写报告。