NRS-17670 | Visitors' books [Wickham Girls' High 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 two volumes surviving from Wickham Girls' High School both relate to one particular occasion, the “Farewell to Wickham Girls' High School” event held at the school on 17 November, 1976, shortly before its final closure. These volumes record the names of those who attended this event, mostly alumni and former staff, with the dates of their attendance or employment at the school, and a variety of comments; there are a total of 202 names, and the dates recorded range from 1906 to 1976.

No other Visitors' books from this school are known to exist.