NRS-19287 | Visitors' Book [Waterloo 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. Visitors books were also used to record participants in celebratory occasions as this book does for the 1858-1958 Waterloo Public School Centenary.

《1866年公共教育法》授权由到访牧师及其代表开展专项宗教教育（《1866年公立学校法》第19条）；该法配套细则允许公众成员在“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）。细则第86条规定，每位教师必须留存访客登记簿，“供访客登记姓名，若认为合适亦可填写留言，教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类留言”。访客登记簿的设立初衷是记录非学生与教师身份、且在学校营业时间到访的人员信息。登记簿分为三栏：日期、姓名与留言栏。留言内容通常会记录到访目的，包括宗教教育（这是到访学校最常见的缘由）、学校视察、医疗检查、执行公务的部门官员（例如检查校舍或设备），以及特邀演讲者。偶尔访客（尤其是学校督察员）会简要评论学校的管理状况或整体氛围。此外，访客登记簿还可用于记录庆典活动的参与者，正如这本记载了1858-1958年滑铁卢公立学校百年校庆的登记簿所展示的那样。