NRS-16489 | Visitors' Books [Ardglen 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 present series consists of two slim purpose-printed volumes, which between them cover the whole period of the school’s operation.

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（《1866年公立学校法》（Public Schools Act, 1866）第19条）；该法配套细则允许公众在“世俗教育时段”入校参观，以观察教学方法、教学材料与教学设备（1867年2月27日教育委员会通过的细则第84-85条）。上述细则要求每位教师必须设置访客登记簿（visitors’ book），“供访客签署姓名，若其愿意亦可留下评论，教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类评论”（细则……第86条）。

访客登记簿的设立初衷是记录校务时段内，除学生与教师外的所有入校人员。该登记簿共设三栏：日期、姓名与评论。评论内容通常会记录访客的入校目的，其中宗教教育（为入校参观最常见的事由）、学校视察、医疗检查、部门官员因公到访（如检查校舍或设备）以及特邀演讲均为常见事由。少数访客（尤其是学校视察员）会简要记录学校的运营状况或校园氛围。

本次数据集包含两本薄型专用印刷簿册，二者完整覆盖了该校的全部运营周期。