Gym Class Memories

 Schools with swimming pools typically meant PE swim class once or twice a week. While some schools required boys with long hair to wear swim caps, most boys were attired wearing only a smile.

 Navy aviation cadets enjoying a little exercise.  If they all adjourned to the same locker room shower, it must have been quite a site!  During their training, they regularly posed in jockstraps (or less) for posture and physique photos to show progress from their physical training.  Presumably, these comparative photos were included in their “201″ file or whatever it was called.   These photos should not be confused with the “posture photos” which were taken of all freshmen (male and female) upon entry to numerous universities in the early 50′s.  The students posed wearing nothing but smiles

 

 Push-ups were not unique to school PE classes, or even military platoon physical training activities.   At the conclusion of this PT session, if all of these men entred the locker room at once, I suspect the shower would be a bit crowded.

 It just didn't seem to be a real PE class without push-ups.   While 15 push-ups often satisfied junior high PE teachers, many high school teachers felt 35 to 50  were more appropriate.  Often, the PE teachers were simply trying to prepare their students for PT training in upcoming military obligations.  Military push-ups often meant getting familiar with sand and dirt rather than a gym floor.

 A high school PE teacher giving 2 students instruction during PE Class wrestling activity. Baggy gym shorts in that era did little to conceal the leg straps of the mandatory jockstraps.

 Attendance in High School PE class reveals similarity to military platoon formation. No doubt PE teacher was ex-military. Typical regulation PE uniform in 50's, and 60's era. Tee shirt, white shorts, white socks, gym shoes.  No doubt a jock, and at some schools a cup required.  Interesting that the uniform regulations are not even allowing socks with stripes which were common in the era.