NRS-20414 | Visitor book [Blackfriars 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.

1866年《公立教育法》（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）；该法配套细则允许公众于“世俗教育（secular instruction）时段”到访学校，观摩教学方法、教材及教学设备（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，每位教师须留存访客登记簿（visitors’ book），供访客登记姓名，若认为合适亦可填写留言，且教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类留言。访客登记簿的设立目的是记录非学生与教师身份、于学校办公时段到访的人员信息。该登记簿共设三栏：日期、姓名与备注。备注内容通常记录到访目的，涵盖宗教教育（该类到访为最常见的学校访客事由）、学校视察、医疗检查、部门官员因公到访（如视察校舍或教学设备）以及特邀演讲。部分访客（尤其是学校视察员）还会简要评论学校的管理状况或校园氛围。