NRS-17231 | Observation Books [The Junction 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 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 once a year until the later 1940’s, and biennially thereafter. 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.

The series from the Junction Public School is divided into separate sequences of volumes for the Girls’ and Boys’ Departments of the school, and is currently represented by three volumes from the Girls’ Department sequence. The earliest of these volumes contains annual Inspectors' reports for the years from 1936 until 1941, biennial Inspectors' reports from 1943 until 1947 and 1948 until 1956, Needlework reports for the years 1939-1941, both Needlework and Physical Education reports for 1943, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1952 and 1954, and an Art Work report for 1943. This volume also contains the Annual Reports delivered by the Mistress of the Girls’ Department to meetings of the school Parents & Citizens Association from 1949 until 1951, with copies of the reports for 1953 and 1954 inserted loose. The second volume contains a single needlework report for 1956, and the third, a needlework report for 1958 and the regular Inspector’s Report for 1959. The greater part of each of these last two volumes remains unused.