NRS-16858 | Visitors' Books [Jerry's Plains 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 overwhelming majority of the entries in this volume are made by clergy visiting the school to provide religious instruction. Between 1930 and 1934 the number of children receiving Anglican instruction is normally recorded for each visit.The Inspectors of Schools also sign the book on their regular visits to the school, as do Attendance Officers, visiting medical and dental officers, police lecturers and, on occasion, officers of the Child Welfare Department. In 1922, and again from 1927 to 1929, the Inspector has recorded the number of children in attendance on the day of his visit, as the Medical Officer has also done in 1924 and 1927.Members of the general public occasionally sign the book, most notably those who attended the school’s Empire Day celebrations in 1923 and the Education Week Open Day in 1961.

1866年《公立教育法案（Public Instruction Act, 1866）》授权派驻牧师及其代表开展专项宗教教育（1866年《公立学校法案（Public Schools Act, 1866）》第19条）；该法案配套的行政规章允许公众于“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日教育理事会（Council of Education）通过的规章第84-85条）。上述规章要求每位教师留存访客簿（visitors’ book），其中明确规定：“访客可在此登记姓名，若认为合适亦可填写意见，教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类意见”（同上规章第86条）。访客簿的设立目的是记录非师生身份、且在学校办公时段到访的人员信息。该簿册设有三栏：日期、姓名与意见栏。访客填写的意见通常会记录到访缘由，包括宗教教育（这是最普遍的到访目的）、学校视察、医疗检查、部门官员因公到访（例如检查校舍或教学设备）以及特邀演讲者来访。少数访客（尤以学校视察员为甚）会简要评论学校的管理状况或整体氛围。本数据集收录的条目绝大多数由前来开展宗教教育的神职人员填写。1930年至1934年间，每次到访通常会记录接受圣公会（Anglican）宗教教育的学生人数。学校视察员在常规到访时也会在访客簿上签名，出勤官员、到访的医疗与牙科人员、警务讲师，以及偶尔到访的儿童福利部门（Child Welfare Department）官员亦会如此。1922年，以及1927年至1929年期间，视察员会记录到访当日的在校学生人数；1924年与1927年，医疗官员也会记录此项数据。普通民众偶尔也会在访客簿上签名，其中最具代表性的是1923年参加学校帝国日（Empire Day）庆典，以及1961年参加教育周开放日（Education Week Open Day）的访客。