School Slate
DimensionsOverall: 21.6 x 30.5 cm
Credit LineGift of Mr. George Bycraft, London, Ontario, 1963
Object number1963.003.213
Label TextThere is evidence of writing slates being used as early as the 14th-century, through to the 20th-century. These slates were the primary tool used in classrooms for students to record their work. This slate belonged to one of the Bycraft children who attended school at Lobo No.3 in Middlesex County in the early 1900's.
In her history of the Bycraft/Zavitz family, Anna Bycraft Ward wrote, "In September 1908 I started School. In the morning I accompanied George & Esther but her school day ended at last recess & I walked home with other beginner pupils. On rainy or stormy days I stayed until 4.00 o'clock, hoping to get a ride home. Staying until 4.00 was considered a great privilege. We could sit with the older pupils & draw or colour, look at books or listen to the older pupils' lessons. To have one's own slate & reader was considered a great
privilege." (p. 69) And, "Only in memory can one visit again the one room school with its rows of desks screwed to the floor, each one built for two pupils. Along the back wall were shelves, divided into little open square cubby holes they called 'pigeon holes' for their lunch pails. Below these & along the side walls were rows of hooks for coats & caps. Under these cubby holes in the winter were piles of wood keeping dry & handy to the big box stove.
Each student kept a water bottle & cloth in his desk for washing slates, an ink bottle, box
of water colour paints, pencil box for eraser, slate pencils, lead pencils, pen holders & several pen nibs (points) besides scribblers & text books. In the winter, often ink & water bottles had to be thawed by the stove..." (p. 88)
NameSlate, Writing
