Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Students Get Gym Credit For Selling Popcorn
By
Jaya Saxena
Published May 30, 2010
Modified May 30, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published May 30, 2010
Modified May 30, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Running laps and doing sit ups is really just not interesting enough to keep high schoolers coming back to gym class, so the New Design High School on the Lower East Side has offered students an easier way to earn gym credit—sell soda and popcorn to filmgoers! For every Friday or Saturday night students volunteer at the concessions stands at the Rooftop Films festival, of which New Design is one of 10 venues, they can earn up to seven hours of gym credit! Cue Bloomberg's ban of film festivals in 3...2...1...
The public school's gym teacher Palmer Taylor, who must be fearing for his job, told the Daily News, "Selling drinks and popcorn at a movie is not physical education. It's just not right. The kids aren't getting enough phys-ed." However, the student's don't seem to upset. Senior Ryan Pacheco said, "We can't get all these hours of phys-ed in during the school day. The school knows that so this is how they deal with it. We stay in shape in other ways."
According to this calorie calculator, one hour of "light Bakery work," which sounds close enough to what these kids are doing, burns 170 calories. "General aerobics" burns 442 calories in the same amount of time. Department of Education spokesman Danny Kanner said, "Obviously, students should not get physical education credits for volunteering at a film festival, but we'll wait until the conclusion of any investigation to pass judgment."
Tagged
film festival
gym class
snack bar
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. ET
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
The Port Authority is replacing its ramshackle Midtown Bus Terminal. Riders will face years of headaches as the work is finished.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
News
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
The Port Authority is replacing its ramshackle Midtown Bus Terminal. Riders will face years of headaches as the work is finished.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
By
Mike Hayes
Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC officials call for Target boycott, say ICE staged at Marble Hill lot before shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .