When You’re Light-Years Ahead Of The Teacher

I am in eighth grade, and we have just completed a test in Earth Science class. It was multiple-choice, and I have been marked wrong on a specific question.

Me: “Ms. [Teacher]. For the question, ‘What is the definition of a light-year?’, I answered, ‘The distance light travels in a year.’ Why did I get marked wrong for that?”

Teacher: “Because that is wrong. The correct answer is, ‘The time it takes light to travel a year.’”

Me: “But… not only is that answer wrong, but it’s also meaningless.”

Teacher: “Don’t be rude, [My Name].”

Me: “But a light-year is a measure of distance, not time.”

Teacher: “Don’t be silly. It’s in the name. It’s a year.”

I give up and take the complaint home. My dad scoffs.

Dad: “Does your teacher also believe that the Kessel Run can be completed in less than twelve parsecs?”

He got it sorted via the Head Of Science, and I got my point on the test. The teacher was upset with me, and I still don’t think she knows what a light-year is.