NRS-16860 | Observation Books [Johnson's Creek 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)

Prior to 1939, these volumes were written up by hand, and are printed in an appropriate format. Four pages (three in earlier volumes) are allowed for each report, which is headed by the name of the school and the date of inspection. The report is then divided into four main areas: attendance, organisation, discipline and instruction. From 1939, the majority of entries made in these 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.

‘Attendance’ is a brief section in which the number present on the day of inspection, the total enrolment at the school and the name of the teacher are recorded.

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.

‘Discipline’ covers observations on the pupils’ behaviour, manners, and standards of neatness in both their work and their persons. Remarks on physical training may also be included here.

‘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.

From 1939 until 1942 the form also includes a section headed Physical Training, which may also appear in reports for 1943 where old stocks of the forms have been used.

Reports appear in these volumes annually until 1941, biennially from 1943 until 1949, annually again from 1951 until 1957 (except that there is no report for 1954) and thereafter only in 1961. The school’s Visitors’ Book for this period (1/8951) confirms that the Inspector made only “advisory,” “supervisory” or “incidental” visits to the school in the years not represented here, except for 1958, where the Visitors’ Book entry is equivocal. The first page of the report for 1956 is now missing.