As anyone who has ever met me knows, I am a math major. Due to this, I spend a great deal of class time in the Hall of Sciences and Brothers College. And unfortunately, the walls of both buildings are adorned with my greatest enemy: chalkboards.
There is a reason the saying “like nails on a chalkboard” exists. The chalkboard is a producer of terrible noises. Sometimes just using chalk is enough to make terrible shrieking sounds. Considering that chalk is the only thing that writes on a chalkboard, you would think they would make it a smoother experience.
Speaking of chalk, it has to be one of the worst writing implements there is. All it ever does is break in half. Every time I use chalk, I end up with giant dust smears on my pants. This is not the fashion statement I want to make. Also, the texture of chalk makes me want to chop off all my fingers every time I touch it.
Chalkboards have been around since at least the 11th century, which means there has been plenty of time to invent a better alternative. Whiteboards exist, and we should endeavor to replace every chalkboard as soon as possible. A whiteboard could never betray me the way a chalkboard has.
When blackboards are inevitably phased out completely, I look forward to saying “I told you so.” And to all the professors who teach in a room that has a whiteboard in it but still use the chalkboard, stop immediately. You are hurting my ears and I simply cannot condone that kind of behavior.Is there something that makes you feel like you just heard nails on a chalkboard? Tell me what it is by emailing me at oarnold@drew.edu (or track me down and scream at me), and I’ll erase it.
Ollie Arnold is a senior majoring in mathematics and minoring in computer science.
