Steinach celebrates beautiful writing: Mayor triumphs in the competition!

Steinach celebrates beautiful writing: Mayor triumphs in the competition!

In the charming small town of Steinach, which is historically known for its production of writing tablets, beautiful writing is kept alive. Third and fourth graders in particular compete to perfect the art of writing. This tradition is not only part of the school curriculum, but also a tribute to the city's long history as a stylus producer. In southern Thuringia reports that Mayor Udo Bätz took part in the beautiful writing campaign last school year and received a special prize for it.

Steinach can look back on more than 400 years of experience in stylus production. Approximately 30 billion pens have left the city worldwide. This impressive number makes Steinach a significant name in German writing history. The long tradition is documented in the German Slate Museum, and the idea for the museum was brought to life in December 1987 by the Steinach Slate Mining Museum Association. The museum itself opened its doors in 1990 and offers a unique experience about the history of stylus and slate making and beyond.

A look into the museum

The German Slate Museum houses a variety of exhibits covering regional history. The exhibition not only shows the development of the stylus industry, but also the processing and artistic use of slate. The highlights of the collection include a replica stylus maker's hut and a classroom from 1940 that invites visitors to write on slates. These historical teaching materials, which were used until the 1970s, have a special place in Germany's educational history. Wikipedia highlights that slates were originally made from a material that could be wiped off after writing, such as slate, and played an important role in educational institutions.

In 2023, a special exhibition took place on the art floor of the museum, which dealt with the topics of slate pens, slate tablets and slate books. Among the interesting objects was a copy from 1812 made by Johann Jacob Jacob. This comes from a beautiful writing book by Johann Friedrich Stäps from Leipzig and shows the long tradition of beautiful writing in the region.

Tradition and innovation

The art of writing has changed over time, but the love of handwriting remains. While digital aids such as whiteboards are increasingly being used in modern classrooms, there is also room for the historical writing board in Steinach. This simple but effective method of writing is still highly valued today and is also practiced in museums and schools.

Steinach therefore remains a place where the tradition of writing is actively lived and promoted. The city's mix of history, culture and contemporary education makes it an exciting destination for visitors and locals alike.