So I’m sitting around with my teenage son , rabbiting on about
life, the universe, and everything, and after 42 topics I make a very lame joke concerning giving your teacher an apple ( munchable ).
I’m greeted with a blank look. Not unusual with any teenager, sure…but it raised the question:
Did pupils ever give an apple to Miss? ( Sexist? Not really.
For in those far off days, most teachers of tinies were fems. )
Is it a myth?
Do we blame Johnny Appleseed?
Was it given to freshen up teach’s bad breath?
Was it other produce as well ?
Help me, please, 'fore I question myself into catatonia.
Well, I’ve been given apples, when I was teaching in a teeny-tiny school operating out of a church. Frankly, it was nice, because a sweet, crisp apple always went well with lunch.
Since I moved to the public school, though, no apples, and frankly, there are only a handful of students who could give me something of that nature (edible, unwrapped, could be poisoned or razor-bladed or drugged) and actually have me eat it.
But, and I speak only for myself here, I HATE it when people give me crap with apples printed on it. “Ooo, she’s a teacher, she’ll like this plastic apple!” No. No no no.
I don’t think I gave any of my teachers here in NZ an apple, although the phrase is well known. However, there was many a time my mother would carefully put together posies of flowers for me trot to school with to give to my teacher at the time (and yes, most of mine in primary school were female).
I would say, though, seeing as I’m in an area once noted for market gardens and fruit orchards, that local teachers early last century would have almost certainly that such tokens of regard given to them. Apples represent knowledge in some quarters – perhaps the origin of the custom and phrase?
I’ve been given apples, got a couple this year. Flowers are more common, though, and the littler ones (say 1st and 2nd grades) and girls in the upper elementary grades are more likely to give presents.