Gym Class Memories

 With many schools starting now, the trip to the stores for school supplies is in full swing. Just a couple of decades ago, that also meant buying physical education uniforms. Some grade schools required showers and PE uniforms (including jockstraps) for boys starting in 4th grade ( 9 years old). Here are some school supply lists from a bygone era: Any memories fellers?

 Judging by hairstyle this looks like some recruits enjoying some exercise.  PT Instructor seems to be doing a good job in getting the legs held at 6" above the floor. I can almost hear the orders:  "Raise em..Spread em..Together..Spread em again.  Ah. the weight of combat boots   Anyone have ideas regarding the water on the floor?   Too much to be sweat.  Besides the recruits have doffed their BDU shirts and their trousers are unbloused.  They simply look too comfortable for having endured a sweat-down party.  Note:  The second photo is poor in quality but should bring memories of doing the leg lifts in school PE classes.

  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.

 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.

 I don't know if this is some type of eccentric "pick-up" ball game, a gay social club activity, or merely a fraternity having their pledges refine their athletic skills, but there certainly appears to be some aggressive basketball in progress.

 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.