NRS-16740 | Observation Books [Dalwood 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 series from Dalwood Public School is represented by its final volume, which contains reports for the years 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1965. In addition, the book has been initialled by the Inspector as having been viewed by him on his visits in 1963, 1967 and 1969, although no reports are included for those years.

The entries made in this volume 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, for Dalwood Public School during this period, appears to have been every second year. [1] 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.

[1] This is confirmed by the occurrence of the Inspectors’ signatures in the school’s Visitors’ Books (1/5171 and 1/5172), where also the purpose of the Inspector’s visit is twice described as “Biennial Inspection.”