Historical information

The following are the recollections of John Elkins, who started school in February, 1945 at Maryborough in Queensland, Australia.

'I think in Prep 1 that we had some paper to write on with pencils, but my memory of the routine use of slates is much more vivid. Each slate was framed in wood and one side was inscribed with lines to guide the limits for the upper and lower extremities of letters. The slate "pencils" were made of some pale gray mineral softer than slate which had been milled into cylinders some one-eighth of an inch in diameter and inserted into metal holders so that about an inch protruded.

Each student was equipped with a small tobacco tin in which was kept a damp sponge or cloth to erase the marks. Sharpening slate pencils was a regular task. We rubbed them on any suitable brick or concrete surface in the school yard. Teachers also kept a good supply of spares, all writing materials and books being provided by the school. It is possible that the retention of slates stemmed from the political imperative that public education should be free. I do recall being given a Copy Book for home practice of letter formation, a typical practice until Grade 6.

The tables at which we used to sit in the Infant School were replaced in the primary Grades by long desks seating five or six pupils. These had slots into which the slates could be inserted vertically. When the teacher asked the class to clear their desks, the command issued was "slates away!" This was an occasion for a noisy expression of relief as we dropped the slates producing a sound not unlike a volley of rifle shots, and usually brought a request from the teacher to repeat the process with no noise by holding the frames throughout. Thus, I suspect we may still have used slates in Grade Three, though by then paper, which may have been scarce during the War, seemed to be used more routinely.'

The full context of John's account of writing during his primary school days can be found at:

https://www.readinghalloffame.org/sites/default/files/history_of_literacy_22slates_away22_penmanship_in_queensland_australia.pdf

Significance

School desks and benches/chairs have been in use in schools since formal group education started.

Physical description

Eight long school desks (five higher three lower), each with four inkwells and groove along length. eight school benches (five higher three lower). Each desk and bench accommodates four children.

Inscriptions & markings

None.