NRS-16687 | Visitors' Books [Cessnock East Public 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 (in most cases, this is 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.

This series is represented by a single volume, which covers the years 1961-1968. The overwhelming majority of entries record visitors to the school on such public occasions as the Education Week Open Days, Commonwealth Day or Parent-Teacher Evenings (one of which, held on the 28th November, 1967, has been provided with an attractively calligraphed heading). Those who attended the Principals’ Meetings held on 22nd September and 20th October, 1966, are fully recorded. The regular visits of the Inspector of Schools or occasional appearances by clergy to give religious instruction, are also represented.