By Prisha Goyal
We see apples on back to school posters, stickers, and really a lot of stuff to do with
school. But how has the apple become such an iconic symbol for education? Let’s start
off with a bit of history.
Apples weren’t originally the sweet fruit we know them to be today. In fact, they were
bitter and not very tasty at all. But apples could be used to make other food items, cider
being a very popular one. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, apples gained
popularity as a healthy food item. People also started to selectively breed sweeter
apples to make it a more pleasurable fruit to eat.
During this time period, there weren’t many public schools in the U.S. like there are right
now, and many kids didn’t receive a proper education. The few rich people who could afford it chose to hire private tutors for their children’s education. Other people decided
to group together and pay for teachers for their children, providing them room and
board in exchange for education. Apples were a way for children and their parents to
help and show appreciation for the teacher, since many families owned orchards and
farms.
Later too, apples remained a symbol for teachers and education in general. Students
today also take apples for teachers on the first day of school, keeping the old tradition
alive.
