These inages dated 1964 shows high school boys, taking time from theire academic endeavors to spend some time enjoying push-ups in their physical education class.
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Having posted numerous images relating to proper attire for PE class, perhaps it is time to start posting more images of PE class activities. This image appears to be middle school or junior high school students getting a little exercise by running in place. The athletic field certinly doesn't appear to be well manicured. They don't appear to be working that hard as none of them are raising their legs to knee level which is often considered proper calisthenic form.
A novel issue, but one which created a lot of discussion among the Physical Education teaching corps was whether cups should be a required part of the school PE uniform. Starting about the 1950's, about the time lawyers were starting to pursue liability cases for PE class related injuries. many school districts initiated some risk reduction measures such as removing climbing ropes, eliminated pyramid gymnastics and requiring jock cups and even mouth pieces for boys PE programs. In the era when I taught, most PE instructors used common sense and required or suggested that cups be worn when contact sports were scheduled, but I was aware teachers or schools where cups were required in ALL PE classes, regardless of activity. It seemed that the ex-military PE instructors were more inclined to follow department uniform requirements, but the new PE teachers, still in their probationary year were the most strict. While the cup requirement was mostly intended for high school age boys, I
In the 50's and 60's, back to school meant acquiring PE clothes, if they were not provided by the school. Certainly small town clothing, hardware and sporting goods stores sold PE necessities, but so did the national retailers. Local newspapers offered large display advertisements for gym shorts and often illustrations of jock straps. SEARS (JC Higgins jocks were usually made by BIKE); JC PENNEY has stores in most every small town and were probably the largest supplier of PE clothes; WAL-MART frequently advertised sales on DUKE jockstraps during back to school sales. Even variety store W.T. Grant advertised socks, jocks shirts and shorts along with their pencils and Crayons.
Some more memories “back to school” advertisements for requisite PE class equipment, jockstraps included. The ad indicating supporters for boys with as small as 20″ waists reminds us that some schools mandated PE uniforms with jocks for grade school boys as young as 3rd and 4th grade. And for those of you wanting to buy one of those 15 cent BIKE jocks, sorry I suspect they are sold out!
