And speaking of school work, here is what I would like to complain about: homework! Yes, I realize that everyone and their brother has been griping about homework since the idea of study was invented somewhere near the beginning of time; however, I think that I have a valid point that should be heard.
The idea of grading homework, that is to say, assigning evaluations based on the amount of time spent outside of the classroom on a particular topic is silly. Evaluations are supposed to mark conquering of understanding, the expansion of knowledge, the enhancement of intellect. Yet homework is directly opposed to these things. If I can take a test and score as well as someone who has spent twice as much time studying, that points to my greater grasp of the material, as well as a greater natural propensity toward learning the topic: both significant parts of the realm of academia. Thus, I propose that persons should be penalized for doing homework, that their scores on a test should be decreased for the amount of time spent studying in addition to class lecture. This way, homework become voluntary, a means toward actually learning the material, not simply busywork, but an actual tool, a price that persons must pay in order to understand a topic.
In any event, three hours of more of homework for each hour in class is crazy! And I am sure that everyone in my lasers class will agree. NO MORE HOMEWORK!