NRS-16991 | Visitors' Book [Sandgate Infants' School]

Full description

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.

The series from Sandgate Infants’ School consists of a single volume, which covers the entire period of the school’s operation from its opening in 1942 until its closure in 1969. Until the end of 1967 visiting clergy were recorded in this volume, but from the beginning of 1968 the school maintained a separate Visiting Clergy Book for this purpose

Visiting clergy are, nonetheless, the dominant element in this record.

Other regular signatories in this book are the Inspectors of Schools, Police Lecturers, School Medical and Dental Officers and Physical Education instructors. Less frequent visits are paid by School Counsellors, representatives of Dr Barnardo’s Homes and the Junior Red Cross and, during the 1960’s, the Branch Librarian from Mayfield.

The volume also records the names of those who attended the school’s Arbor Day celebrations and Children’s Christmas Party in 1943, and the annual meeting of the Mothers’ Club, the annual visit of the Red Cross Commissioner and the Children’s Concert in 1944.