During the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, the American population in Iran,
especially Tehran, steadily increased, as the Shah brought Western
technology to his country. Despite today's Iran/United States
relationship, from the 1950's through the 1970's, Iran was a pleasant and hospitable place
for Americans and all Westerners to live. By 1977, the American population in Tehran
was in the thousands. The Tehran American School (TAS) enrollment
was somewhere around 2000 in grades 1 through 12, making it one of the
largest American schools outside of the United States.
Brief History of the Tehran
American School taken from the Fall 1976 TAS Football Program -
"Back in 1954 the U.S. Ambassador to Iran, Loy Henderson, responding
to the needs of a then "rapidly growing" American community for an
educational facility, directed the inception of TAS. Ninety-four
students in grades 1 through 8 comprised our first student body.By
1960, grades 9 through 12 were added and the "sixties and early 1970"
saw the American School student enrollment mushroom to a seemingly
staggering 1,400 by May of 1973.
Growing pains were just beginning however, and during the past
two years an additional population explosion has occurred and this
year the Tehran American School will become the largest overseas
school in the world with an enrollment of over 3,000 students.
The school's Board of Trustees and Administration have shown
great insight in meeting this rapid expansion by providing the
newest and most modern of facilities for our students body.
The new Elementary and Middle Schools were completed in the fall
of 1974. A new gymnasium and total community athletic
complex was completed this fall, while a complete High School
complex is on the drawing boards for completion in the near
future. Ninety-four then, 3,000 now - thus has been the
growth of the Tehran American School."
|
It was a special place for
many of the Americans who lived there during this time.
There were many activities and things to do for American kids,
teenagers, and their parents. The school provided the usual
activities that Americans expect such as sports teams that competed
throughout the city, intramural sports, cheerleading, band, drama,
chorus, art, modern dance, gymnastics, a variety of clubs, etc...
TAS was not the only
school in Tehran that American kids could attend to receive quality
education. There were others such as our arch rival in sports,
Community School, which was open to all nationalities, as well as the
International School and Iranzamin.
Americans and their
families living in Iran at that time were involved in all industries
and businesses including aeronautical, engineering, oil, data
processing, communications, etc., and the American Armed Forces.
In 1982, Joe
Condrill, class of '73, wanted to keep in touch with
the friends he made there, so he created the Tehran American School
Association (TASA). Joe has worked hard on TASA since that time
planning and holding several reunions, sending out yearly newsletters,
and maintaining a directory of over 1300 names, addresses, phone
numbers, and email addresses of members of TASA.
|
Welcome!
Site Partners
