Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 11:58:52 -0500 (EST)
From: Physical Sisters
Subject: BLAGUES-L: Don't Mess with the Prof!


[ I wish I could do that to MY students... Just kidding. (/jg) ]


Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 11:26:57 +0100
From: Simon Lewis
From: Joe from the Laffatorium


The rules at a particular university were such that if the professor
were not present in the classroom by 15 minutes past the hour, the class
was considered a "walk" and the students were free to leave -- with no
penalties for missing a class.  The rooms were equipped with the type
wall clocks which "jumped" ahead each minute, in a very noticable
fashion.  As it were, these clocks were also not of the most
sophisticated construction.  Some enterprising student discovered that
if one were to hit the clock with chalkboard erasers, it would cause the
clock to "jump" ahead 1 minute.

So, it became almost daily practice for these students to take target
practice at the clock (as it would have it, this particular professor
was not the most punctual, and the students considered him severely
"absent-minded").  A few well aimed erasers, and lo, 15 minutes were
passed, and class dismissed itself.

Well, when the day for the next exam rolled around, the professor
strolled into the room, passed out the exams, and told them "You have 1
hour to complete".

The professor then proceeded to collect the erasers from around the
room, gleefully took aim at the clock.  When he had successfully
"jumped" the clock forward 1 hour, he closed the class and collected the
exam papers.

Life does teach some lessons the hard way.