Haunting chalkboard drawings, frozen in time for 100 years, discovered in Oklahoma school

The Washington Post ^ | June 6, 2015 | Elahe Izadi

[MinorityRepublican]

Teachers and students scribbled the lessons — multiplication tables, pilgrim history, how to be clean — nearly 100 years ago. And they haven’t been touched since.

This week, contractors removing old chalkboards at Emerson High School in Oklahoma City made a startling discovery: Underneath them rested another set of chalkboards, untouched since 1917.

“The penmanship blows me away, because you don’t see a lot of that anymore,” Emerson High School Principal Sherry Kishore told the Oklahoman. “Some of the handwriting in some of these rooms is beautiful.”

[Nailbiter]

interesting

[Conservative4Ever]

My grammar school days were in the mid-late 50’s. The blackboards in my day looked pretty much like that. The multiplication wheel is very interesting. Never had seen anything like that before. Yes, penmanship was taught in every grade. And you were graded on your penmanship. I’ll stop now, I’m beginning to feel old. LOLz.

[Conservative4Ever]

I agree with you. The boards became green and we used a yellow chalk too as I recall.

[Smokin' Joe]

“breath” and “breathe” are another pair...

[Rastus]

Don’t let the kids see them. They might actually learn something.

[upchuck]

I agree with you. The boards became green and we used a yellow chalk too as I recall.

You're right. I had forgotten about the yellow chalk.

[upchuck]

Ones that drive me crazy are using ‘then’ instead of ‘than’ and ‘their’ for ‘they’re.’ Or vice versa.

[Chickensoup]

I remember the multiplication wheel it was a drill with the teacher using a pointer and kids shouting out answers

Beautiful slate chalkboards were covered with green board and now covered with white board.

I was schooled in a classroom of slate and oak and wood desks. there were inkwells on the desks but unused . The windows were big and bright and the classrooms immaculate

the nuns who taught us, in retrospect, had nothing. I remember how carefully they saved string, and straight pins. Each when given special construction paper for the bulletin boards worked hard to make beautiful and creative and inspiring art.

[Kozy]

Select a number inside the wheel like “4x”, then select a number outside the wheel like “8”. So we have “4x” times “8” . The student gives the answer. Quicker and easier than flash cards.

[ABN 505]

With all those video games they play according to evolution theory in several thousand years Kids should have thumbs the size of a baseball mitt!

[ABN 505]

And Influenza killed millions of people especially young kids.

[Bigg Red]

Okay, thanks.

[Bellflower]

I think that you are right about your theory that it is easier to do when you use the computer and are posting to others than it is when you are just writing for some reason. Whatever the reason it might make an interesting study about the brain and communication.

[Jamestown1630]

Maybe. It’s just something that I’ve noticed. Perhaps someone will study it someday.

-JT