What is with the fad of kids taking backpacks to school?

Question

When I went to school in the 70's and 80s, no one had backpacks and we did fine. So why do they do it now? Utility or fad?

Answer 1

today i beleive we have many more books and much more work to complete, so people find backpacks are an easy way to transport the books

Answer 2

How do you not realise that we need a schoolbag?

All the books etc.  

Answer 3

Lots of heavy books + Lots of stairs = Lots of angry people when you trip up the stairs and drop all your stuff

Its a need and a great invention, very practical.

Answer 4

It's not really a fad. I need my backpack because I couldn't possible carry around all the stuff I need. Sometimes I have a full backpack, and still struggle to carry around things in my hands.

But, I can see what you mean. Some people have these tiny backpacks with cartoon characters, and I wonder how they could fit anything more than a pencil bag. THAT is a fad, but for the most part, a backpack is for utility.

Answer 5

Well I went to school in the 70s and most had backpacks.  They're far better than brief-cases, wouldn't you say?  (Or is it that students didn't have to carry books around where you went to school).

Answer 6

why would it be a fad??? i mean c'mon, not everybody can carry 10 books in their hand all the time. i need my backpack cuz i have a lot of books. i guess backpacks are another thing adults can complain about that they never had. *sigh* =(

Answer 7

I don't believe that backpacks are a fad.  Most people use them to avoid carrying their books.  My parents went to school in the 70's and did not need to carry half the amount of books, binders and notebooks we need today.  They also had more time in between classes and were allowed to go to their lockers frequently.  I do not use a backpack because of back problems, and find I have to do twice as much planning to make sure I am not carrying more than I can handle.  

Answer 8

Utility for sure. I went to school a long time ago and we had nothing to carry our books around with except a strap. The books were always slipping and falling. Plus there was no way to carry pencils and other stuff. Then, we didn't have cell phones or calculators, either. So bags can carry all you need and leave your hands free. Of course, having one encourages you to carry around too much. Don't use one if you don't need it!

Answer 9

Well, we need the backpacks to carry all the stuff we're required to brings, binders, pencils, pens, etc. However kids in middle and high school with cartoon backpacks, those are fads. Especially if there isn't locker access at school, and they still wear those tiny things.