School Supplies
It's that time of year! School Supply time! Yay! And there was great rejoicing.....NOT!
To many parents, school supply lists are crazy! Gone are the days kids needed just pencils, erasers and paper! However, the history of school supplies is kind of interesting, well, to me that is! The earliest school supply list dates back to 1450 in England when students were required to provide their own Hornbook. What's a hornbook? It was a wooden tablet (think of a board with a handle at the bottom or top to hold like a fan.). Then thin paper was placed over the letters for the student to copy the letters. Quotes, scriptures, or sayings may also have been on different horn books for students to memorize.
In the early 1800s, students in America would need slates, chalk and books. Slates are the original version of our handheld dry erase boards! Students practiced writing spelling words, math problems and answering other questions. The teacher would review the work for accuracy and then the student would erase his or her work, and continue working. Student textbooks were provided by families, books handed down in families through the generations. Not all students had the same books in the one room school houses.
In 1947, the most recognized pad of paper, Big Chief Tablet made its debut. This famous pad of paper was used by students to practice their writing, and to complete assignments. In the 1970s, these were still being sold mainly for recollecting by parents for their children! This is the one I had! I loved mine! I felt like I was Laura Ingalls Wilder in the show Little House on the Prairie (they used Big Chief pads of paper in some of the their school scenes!) In the 1960s, school supply boxes started making their debut. I swear I had this exact school supply box! However, many of us used any small cardboard box. I remember using my dad's cigar boxes! I loved the smell of cigars! So NOT PC in today's world! Kids started bringing paste in the 1950s. But kids were bringing paste through the 70s, I know I did! Paste. There was always one paste eater. I never could understand how you were to spread the paste with the stiff orange "brush" that was attached to the lid. It wasn't a brush; it was a thick plastic rectangle!
But here we are in 2017 and how the school supply list has grown! Grown to include so many things that parents don't know why they are considered school supplies! Ziplock bags, paper plates, napkins, kleenex, hand sanitizer, wipes.... are we buying school supplies or party supplies! ha! However, most parents know these supplies are needed to keep educational activities engaging and rewarding. Most parents know that teachers are also buying other supplies for special lessons, class decorations, rewards, awards, and other ways to make sure your children feel special. There are other school supply purchases taken place by adults who do not have children but purchase to donate. Thank you to all who buy school supplies!!!!
Sources:
http://www.trademarkia.com/original-big-chief-71526005.html
https://www.schooliseasy.com/2013/08/school-supplies-throughout-history/
http://kingsriverlife.com/08/25/school-supplies-then-and-now/
To many parents, school supply lists are crazy! Gone are the days kids needed just pencils, erasers and paper! However, the history of school supplies is kind of interesting, well, to me that is! The earliest school supply list dates back to 1450 in England when students were required to provide their own Hornbook. What's a hornbook? It was a wooden tablet (think of a board with a handle at the bottom or top to hold like a fan.). Then thin paper was placed over the letters for the student to copy the letters. Quotes, scriptures, or sayings may also have been on different horn books for students to memorize.
In the early 1800s, students in America would need slates, chalk and books. Slates are the original version of our handheld dry erase boards! Students practiced writing spelling words, math problems and answering other questions. The teacher would review the work for accuracy and then the student would erase his or her work, and continue working. Student textbooks were provided by families, books handed down in families through the generations. Not all students had the same books in the one room school houses.
In 1947, the most recognized pad of paper, Big Chief Tablet made its debut. This famous pad of paper was used by students to practice their writing, and to complete assignments. In the 1970s, these were still being sold mainly for recollecting by parents for their children! This is the one I had! I loved mine! I felt like I was Laura Ingalls Wilder in the show Little House on the Prairie (they used Big Chief pads of paper in some of the their school scenes!) In the 1960s, school supply boxes started making their debut. I swear I had this exact school supply box! However, many of us used any small cardboard box. I remember using my dad's cigar boxes! I loved the smell of cigars! So NOT PC in today's world! Kids started bringing paste in the 1950s. But kids were bringing paste through the 70s, I know I did! Paste. There was always one paste eater. I never could understand how you were to spread the paste with the stiff orange "brush" that was attached to the lid. It wasn't a brush; it was a thick plastic rectangle!
But here we are in 2017 and how the school supply list has grown! Grown to include so many things that parents don't know why they are considered school supplies! Ziplock bags, paper plates, napkins, kleenex, hand sanitizer, wipes.... are we buying school supplies or party supplies! ha! However, most parents know these supplies are needed to keep educational activities engaging and rewarding. Most parents know that teachers are also buying other supplies for special lessons, class decorations, rewards, awards, and other ways to make sure your children feel special. There are other school supply purchases taken place by adults who do not have children but purchase to donate. Thank you to all who buy school supplies!!!!
Sources:
http://www.trademarkia.com/original-big-chief-71526005.html
https://www.schooliseasy.com/2013/08/school-supplies-throughout-history/
http://kingsriverlife.com/08/25/school-supplies-then-and-now/
Comments
Post a Comment