NRS-16658 | Observation Books [Carrington Public School]

Full description

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 nineteenth- and early twentieth-century volumes are pre-printed to record the Inspector’s remarks on each of the first five grades of the school, and on each of the subjects supposed to be taught in each grade. One full page is allowed for each visit of inspection. Provision is made for him to record each grade’s attainments, with his own suggestions and directions for the teacher to attend to, and his observations on the organisation and discipline of the school. A final section on each page asks for the Inspector to record any suggestions and directions given at his previous visit of inspection which had not been duly observed by the teacher, which information was also to be included in his report to the Minister.

The majority of entries made in post-1938 volumes 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 only once a year. 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.

The present series is represented by eight volumes, which cover the years 1874-1881, 1885-1905 and 1963. Three volumes - for 1891-1895, 1896 and 1963 - relate only to the Infants’ Department of the school, which operated as a separate department with its own sets of records during the years 1891-1896, was re-amalgamated with the main body of the school in 1897, and re-established as a separate department in 1963. The Primary Department volume commenced in 1895 records one visit of inspection for that year, and is otherwise blank; a new volume commences in 1896, and continues thereafter as the volume of record for the whole school. One unused, completely blank volume also forms part of this series; it comes with a covering letter to the school dated the 22nd April, 1899.