NRS-16533 | Visitors' Books [Boolaroo Public School]

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.Volumes of this series are held for the years 1943 – 1951 and 1958 – 1963. Clergy visiting to provide religious instruction account for the overwhelming majority of entries in these volumes, but notice should be drawn to the signature of Clive Evatt, Minister for Education on the 12th November, 1943, and the notes which accompany the signatures of the guests at the planting of memorial trees on the 15th November, 1951.1866年《公立教育法案》授权来访牧师及其代表开展专项宗教教育（1866年《公立学校法案》第19条）；该法案配套细则允许公众在“世俗教育时段”前往学校观摩教学方法、教材与教学设备（1867年2月27日教育委员会通过的细则第84-85条）。细则第86条明确要求，每位教师必须备置访客登记簿（visitors’ book），登记簿需供访客登记姓名，若访客认为有必要，还可填写相关意见，且教师绝对不得擦除或修改此类留言。访客登记簿的设立目的，是记录非学生与教师身份、且在校园营业时间内到访学校的人员信息。该登记簿分为三栏：日期、姓名与备注。备注内容通常会记录到访事由，其中宗教教育（这是到访学校最普遍的缘由）、学校视察、医疗检查、公务到访的部门官员（例如视察校舍或教学设备）以及特邀演讲者均为常见的到访类型。部分访客（尤其是学校视察员）还会简要记录学校的运行状况或校园氛围。本系列档案卷册的馆藏覆盖年份为1943年至1951年，以及1958年至1963年。其中绝大多数条目均为前来开展宗教教育的神职人员到访记录，但需特别留意两处特殊记载：1943年11月12日时任教育部长克莱夫·埃瓦特（Clive Evatt）的签名，以及1951年11月15日纪念植树活动中各位嘉宾签名附带的备注内容。