To meet the physical education requirements necessary to graduate, current seniors, some unaware of certain P.E. credit rules, have run into complications or have made accommodations in order to fulfill these requirements.

Rules revolving around physical education are set out by the state.

“California state graduation requirements are that students take the equivalent of four semesters of PE at Piedmont High School,” counselor Ashley English said.

For those who have not obtained the four required P.E. credits by the fall of their senior year, winter and spring sports do not count.

Freshman year, all students are required to take a freshman physical education course for two semesters, thus gaining two out of the four credits required. To receive the other two semesters worth of credits, students must either participate in two seasons of Piedmont sports, two semesters of dance classes, or the continuation of the physical education courses. Additionally, those who participate in Oakland Strokes Rowing Club or other sports that are approved receive credit.

However, the sports that students partake in during their freshman year do not contribute to their four semesters worth of credit.

“I think it’s kind of silly that freshmen PE is required but that sports credits do not count for that year because technically it would fulfill my credits if they did,” senior Rosie Schwarz said.

In her case, Schwarz said health reasons restricted her from participating in a sport during her junior year. Additionally, she was informed that this would be okay and that playing a sport senior year would fulfill her credits. However, she was placed in PE.

“I was told that I could be switched out of it up until a week before. I am currently not taking P.E. for those same health reasons,” Schwarz said.

Similarly senior Steve Yu is currently taking P.E  because he did not play a sport junior year.

“The school is forcing me to take P.E. until I make the golf team,” Yu said. “I knew this would happen after deciding not to take a sport junior year.”

For those needing to add PE into their course schedules, adjustments had to be made.

“Some seniors did have to add it in and others had it scheduled since the beginning of the year,” English said.

With the change, some found it to be upsetting.

“A few of my classes and teachers switched which was kind of unsettling,” Schwarz said.

Because classes may have changed due to fitting in PE, students prefer further explanation as to why they need to take the class.

“I understand that this rule is put in place to ensure that everyone graduates, but I definitely think it should be explained more,” Schwarz said.

However, feelings toward meeting the four semester credits are not all negative.

“I have no hard feelings about the situation nor do I think the system should change,” Yu said.