Berenson sought to establish mandatory physical education in this atmosphere. She spent considerable time presenting her position to the faculty and administration. One meeting began with only one faculty member was in agreement, but by the meeting's end, she had persuaded the faculty to support a mandatory second year of physical education. While Berenson saw the need to persuade the faculty, she naively thought the students were more supportive. She had heard that some of the students felt the exercises were too boring, but she had six classes each day filled with "enthusiastic girls". Because of the evident enthusiasm, she decided it would not be necessary to take attendance. However, when she reached the end of the school year and was provided a complete roster for the purpose of recording grades, she realized that many students had never come to class. She instituted roll call the following year.