NRS-16983 | Visitors' Books [Salisbury 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 most frequent signatories to the earlier of these volumes, which records visitors from 1907 until the beginning of 1969, are clergy and other church-workers visiting the school in order to provide religious instruction to the pupils. From 1909 to 1911 the subject of each religious instruction class is noted in the Visitors’ Book, and that between 1908 and 1922 the number of pupils receiving instruction is sometimes made part of the entry.The Inspectors of Schools regularly sign the Visitors’ Books on their visits of inspection to the school, and prior to 1930 occasionally add a note of the number of pupils in attendance on the day. Less regular official visitors include, from time to time, Physical Education Supervisors, Attendance Officers, School Medical Officers, School Counsellors and officers of the Child Welfare Department. The school was visited in August, 1951 by Mr R.L. Fitzgerald, M.L.A. for Gloucester, and in October, 1961, by the Director of Education (Newcastle), Mr Gelfius.Members of the public appear paying private visits to the school more often than is commonly the case. These occasions include the school’s Education Week Open Days, held in 1959 and then most years from 1962; and the Commonwealth Day celebrations held from 1963 to 1968. Twenty-one former pupils, including several septuagenarians, signed the Visitors’ Book on the occasion of the “Back to School Day” held in 1948.It would appear that at least one volume which precedes the surviving volumes in this series is missing.

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；依据1866年《公立学校法》（Public Schools Act, 1866）第19条，该法案项下的细则同时规定，公众可在“世俗教育时段”到访学校，观摩教学方法、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）。
该细则要求每位教师必须留存一本访客登记簿（visitors’ book），“访客可在此登记姓名，若认为合适亦可填写备注。教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类备注”（前述细则第86条）。
访客登记簿的设立初衷是记录非学生与教师身份、且在工作日到访学校的人员信息。登记簿共设三栏——日期、姓名与备注。备注通常会记录到访目的，其中宗教教育（为学生提供宗教教育是最常见的到访原因）、学校巡查、医疗检查、部门官员因公到访（例如检查校舍或设备）以及特邀演讲者均为常见事由。少数访客（尤其是巡查员）还会简要记录学校的管理状况或校园氛围。
现存最早的一批登记簿记录了1907年至1969年初的到访人员，其中最频繁的签名者为前来为学生提供宗教教育的神职人员及其他教会工作人员。1909年至1911年间，登记簿中会记录每一节宗教教育课的授课主题；1908年至1922年间，部分登记条目还会附带接受宗教教育的学生人数。
学校巡查员会在每次到访巡查时签署访客登记簿，1930年之前，部分巡查员还会补充记录当日在校学生人数。其他不定期到访的官方人员包括体育督导、出勤官员、学校医官、学校辅导员以及儿童福利部门的工作人员。1951年8月，格洛斯特选区立法会议员（Member of the Legislative Assembly，缩写M.L.A.）R.L.菲茨杰拉德先生到访该校；1961年10月，纽卡斯尔教育总监盖尔菲厄斯先生亦曾到访。
相较于常规情况，普通市民以私人身份到访该校的频率更高。此类到访包括1959年举办的学校教育周开放日，以及1962年起多数年份都会举办的此类活动；还有1963年至1968年间举办的英联邦日（Commonwealth Day）庆祝活动。1948年举办的“返校日（"Back to School Day"）”活动中，共有21名往届毕业生（其中数位已年逾七十）在访客登记簿上签名。
现有馆藏的这套访客登记簿中，至少有一卷早于现存记录的早期簿册已遗失。