Anybody who recalls school days definitely remember few things such as desks, benches and chalkboards. We see a chalkboard as just another thing but it plays a vital role while cherishing the memories of school and class rooms. Chalk boards are the strongest medium to impart education as it helps to explain the topics with diagrams.The amazing thing about chalkboards is its history. Chalkboard was invented by Mr. James Pillans. He was a headmaster in a high school in Edinburgh, Scotland. Though, the year of invention of chalkboards is yet to find out.
The word “chalkboard” is mainly prevalent in United States and has been in use since 1935-40. In other countries of the, blackboard is the word which is used mostly. But to go in the history, blackboard is in use from a much longer period i.e. from around 1815. Pillans used the chalkboard to teach Geography in school so to make the conception of the students clear. It was wide utilized in the United States during 1801. Later, George Baron, a teacher at West Point made use of chalkboard in his math class.
Before chalkboard was invented it was difficult for the teachers present their ideas in a visual manner. At that point of time, students used to use their own slates which were made of wood and covered with black grit. There was also other type of slates which were made of porcelain. But the slates were not used by the teachers. It was meant for only the students to write their lessons. Though the concept of chalkboards had been take slightly from slates only. In the early days, when there were no chalkboards, the teaching process was very slow.
The teachers used to go to every student in the classroom to solve a problem of math. They used to take help of the slates to solve the problems and the students who had no slates used to peep in other students’ slates. In 1846, California inaugurated its first school. Students used to write on their hands then because neither the students nor the teachers had slates. Slowly Administrators in schools and teachers started realizing the positive sides of chalk board. Now they could explain any concept and ideas to a large numbers of students. Europe was the producer of chalkboards. Thus, chalk boards were ordered from Europe in huge quantities.
It also gave rise to shipping as it was more convenient to get the goods. Later, after fifty years, chalkboards had been started by almost all the schools in the United States. Chalkboards were also used in various seminars and business offices to make the vital points and concepts clearer in the discussion. These were used mainly and mostly by the mathematicians and the scientists to solve their equations and formulas. In the 1960s, another invention of steel blackboards came into existence. Slowly the color of chalkboards was replaced by green as it was more soothing to the eyes. The styles of chalkboards have changed with the pace of time but its purpose is still the same, i.e., educating the people. Now slowly digital boards are replacing chalkboards and blackboards. And, most of the schools are installing it.
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