NRS-16979 | Visitors' Books [Rothbury 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.The series from Rothbury Public School is currently represented by two volumes, which together cover the period from 1908 until the closure of the school in 1964. The majority of entries in these volumes are made by clergy or their representatives visiting the school in order to provide religious instruction. Other regular, though less frequent, signatories include the Inspectors of Schools, Physical Education supervisors and a Sewing instructress. Other, occasional visitors included School Counsellors, officers of the Child Welfare Department and the School Medical and Dental Services, Police Safety Lecturers, Shire Health Inspectors and representatives of the Commonwealth Bank.

1866年《公共教育法》（Public Instruction Act, 1866）授权来访神职人员及其代表开展专项宗教教育（详见1866年《公立学校法》（Public Schools Act, 1866）第19条）；该法案下设条例允许公众在“世俗教育时段”到访学校，观摩教学方法、教材与教具（1867年2月27日教育委员会通过的条例第84-85条）。
该条例要求每位教师必须备置访客登记簿（visitors’ book），“以供访客登记姓名，若有意愿亦可填写评论。教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类评论”（详见前述条例第86条）。访客登记簿的设立目的，在于记录非学生与教师身份、且于办公时段到访学校的人员信息。登记簿共设三栏：日期、姓名与评论栏。评论内容通常会记录到访目的，其中宗教教育（为学校到访最常见的事由）、学校巡查、医疗检查、部门人员因公到访（例如检查校舍或教具）以及特邀演讲均为常见事由。部分访客（尤其是巡查员）会简要评论学校的运营状况或校园氛围。

罗斯伯里公立学校（Rothbury Public School）的该系列馆藏目前留存两卷访客簿，完整覆盖1908年至1964年学校停办的整个时段。其中绝大多数条目由神职人员及其代表填写，他们到访学校的目的为开展宗教教育。其他虽频次较低但仍较为固定的签署者包括学校巡查员、体育督导与缝纫指导教师。偶尔到访的访客则包括学校辅导员、儿童福利部职员、学校医疗与牙科服务人员、警察安全讲师、郡卫生检查员以及联邦银行（Commonwealth Bank）的代表。