http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,1869544,00.html

NUS have kicked up a stink but I think it's a great idea.

There has been a lot about them in the THES, especially the bit(s) designed to prevent legal recompense for disappointing teaching etc. The opinion of an education legal expert was that it was essentially an unfair contract term and most unlikely to hold up to any legal scrutiny in a court if a student had a fair case.

If I was an undergrad I'd be pretty naffed off about it. On saying that, I'll be doing some teaching myself so I'd better watch out. Fortunately, I'm quite enthusiastic about it at the moment and will do the best I reasonably can for them.

I am on my 2nd year of teaching, & I started off with a bit of a romantic dead poets society idea of what it would be like. Just be warned Sylvester that your enthusiasm won't always be rewarded. After the 1st semester I was dead cynical and pretty much in despair at the ammount of slacking undergrads could get away with and still pass. However 2nd semester I kind of evened out as I learnt not to take it personally when students didn't engage or turn up and when a few interested ones and gifted students start to emerge it was really rewarding. Marking an essay on a lecture you have given that has captured a students imagination and you can see they have 'got it', is a great feeling.

I still think the contracts sound like a good idea. There is too much banging on about students being paying customers. Expecting a degree without doing the graft. As one commentor said online that they need to realize they are buying into a system they have to participate in

To be honest, I was working on the assumption that being first years none would give a damn anyway! But thank you for the advice - you can lead a horse to water......

So what does everyone think, should I be good cop or bad cop with my first years?