Where did backpacks come from? When were they first introduced? Well, the answers to these questions are complicated. According to Terra Thread, the first “backpack” was estimated to be around 3300 BC, but they were very different from the backpacks we see in our halls today. The backpack was recovered by a group of German hikers in 1991 and is thought to have belonged to Otzi the Iceman. It was made only of sticks and believed to carry hiking supplies. From stick backpacks to the backpacks in stores today, backpacks have been used for a multitude of purposes, including backpacks made out of metal used in the US military in 1877, the first zippered backpacks in 1938, and of course backpacks used for school. But that leads us to the question: when did schools start enforcing backpacks?

According to Time Magazine, the first modern school backpacks were invented in 1967 by Gerry Outdoors, although kids were taking different sorts of bags to school, including early versions of satchels and book bags long before then. As years passed, backpacks evolved to slowly get bigger as kids now had more textbooks to carry to and from school. They also aimed to appease the general public, and cartoon characters and patterns could now be found on school bags. Now that we know the history behind the idea and creation of backpacks, what do kids in the modern day carry in their bags for school each day?

This month, we asked 3 students what they carry in their backpack for school each day to see if there were any noticeable trends and differences between each student. Penny Sasik’s bag had her IPad, a book, and lots of loose papers, as she said: “Folders are for losers.” Kendal Anderson’s backpack on the other hand, was very organized and included a folder, iPad, 2 books and even a fidget. When asked about the two books she answered “I like to read, one book is for school and the other is just for fun.” Leo Baird’s bag was handmade: “My mom made it herself out of jeans!” and like the other bags included an iPad, book, headphones, and a t-shirt. “It’s my paint shirt for crew, so that my other one doesn’t get paint on it.” Overall, what you bring in your backpack is entirely a personal choice, but certain things can be helpful in certain situations and providing what you need for that can be helpful to your learning experience.