When Were Slates Used in Schools?

In the 1800s, schools used slates to teach students reading, writing, and math. Students used slates because paper and ink were expensive. Students used slates to complete class work and practice their lessons. Students also took slates home to practice what they learned in school.

When did students stop using slates?

At the dawn of the twentieth century, writing slates were the primary tool in the classroom for students. In the 1930s (or later) writing slates began to be replaced by more modern methods. However, writing slates did not become obsolete. They are still made in the twenty-first century, though in small quantities.

Why did they use slates in schools?

A slate pencil (not chalk) was used to form the letters. This slate pencil was often sharpened on the school wall. The advantage of slates over paper was that they could be wiped clean and used again and again. ... A slate pencil (not chalk) was used to form the letters.