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Every second week I think I might do a post on the history of something, starting today.
Here is another history of something post and this weeks something is the old school blackboard which is now pretty much obsolete. In some places they may have been called a chalkboard, here in Aus it has always been called a blackboard.
As a child I had a blackboard that my dad would freshen up with blackboard paint, when needed.
In 1801, the rather obvious solution to the problem made its debut. James Pillans, headmaster and geography teacher at the Old High School in Edinburgh, Scotland, is credited with inventing the first modern blackboard when he hung a large piece of slate on the classroom wall.
Manufacturing of slate blackboards began by the 1840s. Green porcelain enamel surface, was first used in 1930, and as this type of boards became popular, the word "chalkboard" appeared. In the US green porcelain enamelled boards started to appear at schools in 1950s.
So what's up with the name? Originally, blackboards really were black. Before wall-sized chalkboards existed, late 18th-century students used their own mini boards made of slate or painted wood, according to Concordia University. Those first boards were, in fact, black, and they paved the way for the larger ones
In any case, early blackboards were primitive, made from materials such as pine covered with a mixture of egg white and carbon from charred potatoes. Or a paste of lime, plaster of Paris and lampblack might simply be spread on a classroom wall.
By the 1970s, whiteboards were slowly being adopted in schools. The amount of dust created when using and cleaning chalkboards was a major catalyst for many switches from blackboards to whiteboards.
In the 1950s, no child had enough money for pens, ink, books for writing in etc etc, so primary schools put a small blackboard in each child's desk. Chalk was handed out as needed.
ReplyDeleteIt worked well as a way for every child to practise handwriting.
I have seen such things in TV shows set back in the 1800's, I think it was a good idea
DeleteI remember growing up the big green chalkboards (or blackboard--both were used). One of the students often took the erasers outside after school and beat them on the side of the building--cleaning the erasers for the teacher while she used a damp rag to clean them for the next day. I did eraser cleaning sometimes because I walked to grade school so could stay after for a bit to be a helper. The teacher always appreciated it. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked cleaning the dusters or erasers as you called them for the teacher
DeleteThey are a good thing in the schools back then Jo-Anne.
ReplyDeleteYep they were
DeleteI have such fond memories of the old chalk boards. Today's white boards are actually more practical, Jo-Anne. Thanks for the history lesson!
ReplyDeleteYes today's white boards are good but will the children of today have good memories of helping the teacher clean the dusters I don't thing so
DeleteNice post - thanks!
ReplyDeleteI often read your blog, and am not prompted to comment by your missives, all of which provide me with an enjoyable read. Thanks for posting!
I am pleased you read and like the posts, I try not to be too boring with my posts
DeleteInteresting history. Yes, dust created when using and cleaning chalkboards was a major issue.
ReplyDeleteCleaning them may have been and issue but as a child we didn't know that
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