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Chalkboards

by Seth Miller

Chalkboards were an essential part of most people's early childhood. We used them when we were kids. We used them when we went to school. They followed us to our universities and in some cases, continue to be a part of our life even at work. Chalkboards have been an integral yet inconspicuous part of our lives since our infancy.

It is hard to gauge exactly when chalkboards first came into existence. The original chalkboards were merely small pieces of slate, framed in wood to prevent them from breaking. Since commercial chalk did not exist at that time, shards of slate were used to mark on these boards. Rudimentary as it might seem, these instruments gave an impetus to education during the early 19th century, as paper was too expensive for many.

Later, the benefit of putting the board up on a wall in the schools was realized. This saved a lot of time and effort of writing down problems for individual students. The teacher could not speak to the entire class; by using a chalkboard, the students could benefit collectively. As slates become more popular, chalkboards could be found in more and more classrooms across the US. Owing to its color, these slate boards became known as blackboards.

Further evolution in chalkboards witnessed the use of white limestone or chalk to write on the slate. This could be easily erased with the help of a felt-covered block. However, as chalk dust poses a potential health hazard, some people prefer the use of whiteboards. These are plastic boards that are written on with special colored markers that are washable. These prove to be a cleaner and brighter alternative to chalkboards. Whiteboards are growing in popularity, especially in the business sector.

Apart from being used as writing surfaces in educational institutes, chalkboards are a popular tool for toddlers who are learning to write. Even with the advent of the whiteboard, the significance and impact of the chalkboard cannot be underestimated. From classrooms to homes, the simple chalkboards continue to foster education and creativity.

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