NRS-23486 | Observation book [Neutral Bay Public School (1886-1898) / Superior Public School (1898-1912) / Public School and Commercial School and Home Science School (1913-1915) / Public School and Junior Technical School (1921-1927) / Public School and Home Science School (1922-1925) / Public School and Girls Intermediate High School (1926-1940) / Public School and Boy Intermediate High School (1928-1937) / Public School and Junior Technical School (1940-1940) / Public School (1941-1943) / Central Scho...

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 arrangement of this series reflects the organisation of the school, in that the several departments into which the school was divided after 1913 are each reported on separately, and these reports are recorded in separate Observation Books. At present this series contains Observation Books from the Boys' Department, 1933-1951, and the Girls' Department (known as the Domestic Science School until 1926), 1926-1957.The book for the Boys' Department includes reports on the whole school for the years 1949 and 1951. The entries in these volumes are made directly into the volume in until 1938, generally by hand, but in some cases by removing the pages, typing the text of the report and then re-inserting the typed pages. From 1939 onwards, however, the reports are entered on a specifically designed form, which is then pasted into the observation book. The form details the school and the inspection date, which was normally once a year until 1942. Thereafter the Boys' Department tends to be reported on only every second year, although annual inspections continue to be the rule for the Girls' Department.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.Between 1939 and 1942 the forms also include a brief fourth section, 'Physical Education'.

本观测簿（Observation Book）的用途为督学记录学校管理、校内人际与纪律状况，以及教学的范畴与成效等一般性评述。《1866年公立学校法案》项下的规程规定：“督学对所视察学校的状态评述，需录入该校观测簿（Observation Book）；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。”（此规程于1867年2月27日由教育委员会通过，第83条）

本系列的编排遵循学校的组织架构：1913年后该校划分出的多个学部，均分别单独提交视察报告，并录入各自独立的观测簿（Observation Book）。目前本系列馆藏1933年至1951年的男学部观测簿，以及1926年至1957年的女学部观测簿（该学部1926年前称家政学校）。

男学部的观测簿中包含1949年与1951年的全校视察报告。1938年以前，观测记录通常直接手写录入簿册；部分情况下则会拆页后打印报告文本，再将打印页重新插入簿册。1939年起，报告需先录入专用制式表格，再将表格粘贴至观测簿中。表格会详细记录学校信息与视察日期——1942年以前通常为每年一次。此后男学部的视察频率改为每两年一次，而女学部仍保持每年一次的常规视察安排。

该制式表格分为三大核心板块：校务组织（organisation）、校务治理（government）与教学实施（instruction）。其中“校务组织”板块涵盖学校设备、美化项目、教职工管理、档案记录、教育机构协作、整体管理的顺畅性与成效，以及学校在社会中的地位。“校务治理”板块则评述师生关系、纪律规范对行为理想的培育效果、对独立思考与行动的激励作用，以及学校对学生的社会化影响。“教学实施”或整体调研板块则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发展与提升高阶文化价值鉴赏力方面的成效。

1939年至1942年间，表格还增设了简短的第四板块：体育（Physical Education）。