While researching for this article I found the following history sources, although I know nothing about them and this is not an endorsement. The ones you might find there would be chalkboards rather than slates anyway – particle board painted with chalkboard paint rather than an actual piece of slate. They are still widely available on auction sites like ebay where you can get an antique slate and the pencils, but don’t look for them at you local craft store because they are no longer the “in thing” to decorate apparently. The slate was phased out in the 20th century as paper making became less expensive. If you don’t like the sound of nails on a chalkboard, plug your ears when learning to write with a slate pencil on a slate! The scratching sound is something like a cat catching its tail under a rocking chair’s runner. Chalk was also available which was softer and easier to write with on slate. The softer the pencil, the fewer scratches it made into the slate surface, preserving the slate for a longer amount of usage. They were commonly wrapped in paper and slate pencils wrapped in wood (akin to a modern #2) were also available into the 20th century. Slate pencils were most common, and made from soapstone or of a softer grade of slate than the actual tablet was made. But! that was not the case in the 19th century. But, what did they write with? Until recently, I assumed “chalk of course!” because that is what the teachers of my childhood used on the chalkboard. ![]() ![]() School children had a slate which they carried back and forth from home to school. And now you know where that saying comes from… Once the work was reviewed at the student’s desk, the slate was wiped clean and new work commenced. There was just too much chance something would be erased accidentally. A teacher could walk around the room and review a student’s progress much like today, but assignments couldn’t practically be collected and then returned at the end of the session with a grade. Both sides of the slate would have been used as a work surface.īecause the slate was for temporary work, memorization was crucial for learning and in passing examinations. Slates could be bound in a book to protect the surface, and smaller 3×5 slates were available for adults to jot notes and work math on. The average size was 8×10 once encased in the frame. Slate is a type of stone you might have seen used as stepping stones or patio paving, but in the 19th century, the stone was “flaked” into thin sheets and then cut to size. Paper would have been reused to start the fire. Now that really turns our modern concept of school supplies on its head, doesn’t it!? But, in perspective, a slate was a one-time purchase, and for practicing at something such as penmanship or arithmetic, it wasn’t practical to keep the work. Many sources reference the fact that paper was expensive while slate was inexpensive. But, who exactly knows the how and they why of the slate? We all know (somehow, by osmosis perhaps) that a slate is a chalkboard. These are not approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and are therefore not safe for consumption.If you have stumbled across this site because you were browsing historical topics, at some point you likely have come across references to school children using slates to perform their work. Now, these chalks must not be confused by edible chalks that are also sold on Amazon and tend to be completely safe for consumption as they are FASSAI approved. And this is just one of the many reviews the product has received. But who cares!" wrote one Amazon commenter in sarcasm. You’ll get rich vitamins, proteins, minerals and carbohydrates. Finger licking good can’t explain the taste. ![]() They are so tasty and can’t keep the packet down without finishing. "I eat these slate pencils for evening snack. #BoycottAmazon Trends Online as Amazon Gets Slammed for Hurting Religious Sentiments AGAIN, This Time for Selling Pajamas And Swimwear With Photos of Hindu Gods! Although chalk doesn't have any major health risk, this item on Amazon sold solely for eating is only enabling the eating disorder, also known as Pica. It is clear that they have made people with an eating disorder their target audience, which is not the right way to go. Amazon is selling "chalk for eating".and it isn't even an April Fools' joke! People are calling out Amazon for selling various types of slate chalk for eating. But looks like Amazon.in didn't get the memo. However, you do not see items like this for sale, especially with the USP being focused on the factor that it can enable an eating disorder. One of the most common items that is "loved" by people having this disorder is chalk. You must have seen many kids and pregnant women dealing with Pica aka eating things that are non-edible or have no nutritional value.
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