When I look at all the great classes that students could and should be taking in school (computers, business, foreign language, coding, physics, art, music, etc) - it drives my crazy that they have to waste an entire class period in gym class every single year. And it is even more frustrating that in high school, the gym class is only half a credit which forces a study hall every other day. So "half a class" requirement wastes an entire class period ( over 10% of the school year ).

The current NYS requirement dictates that you take 1/2 credit of physical education for 4 consecutive years to graduate, and you can't even double up to free up schedule in later years. You should be able to substitute any sport, dance, martial arts, skiing, hiking, first-aid, curling, cycling, bowling, fishing, etc to satisfy this requirement. 

For example, the 1st standard in the NYSED Physical Education handbook is "Demonstrates refined movement skills and creative expression by choreographing a dance or by giving a performance."  - Yet taking dance classes outside of school can't qualify as a substitution to meet the graduation requirements?

Physical wellness is important but students should have freedom to meet this goal by pursuing their own passions and interests, and have more time in school available for learning career-oriented topics.