The Great Gym Class Switcheroo

What started as a shock to his ego turned out to show his logistical skills.

Frederick J. Ammann

In addition to teaching the Three R’s, elementary schools across New York in the 1960s attempted to impart life enrichment into the curriculum. For one period each day, our teachers led us out of the classroom for “special area” instruction in art, music or gym. I wasn’t very artistic or musical. As a fifthgrader in Valley Stream, N.Y., I was all about sports. I lived for Tuesday and Thursday gym class and the chance to play in school and get a grade, a sure lock for my only A on my report card. Nothing was better than putting on my gym uniform—blue cotton shorts and a white T-shirt with Clearstream Elementary emblazed on the front, which we bought from the local mom-and-pop clothing store downtown. In those days, gym teachers…

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Good Old Days (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2023

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