Sorry to hear of your unenjoyable class. The book Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools

is worth looking into. Another book I can not recall the title of mentioned using the bottom of a glass bottle for practice. It also stated obsidian and manufactured glass fracture at 100 deg angle from point of impact or during pressure flaking. As of yet my skill at making anything useful is very poor. I so recommend getting a piece of leather from a craft store as a protective surface while working the obsidian. I often get a sliver of it between my hand and the leather though. Just my 2cents worth.

You may want to look into some primitive skills type clubs whear you can go hang out/practice the stuff you are interested in learning. Just a thought.

Joe