Turn-up for the books 1

If I were not already comfortably aware that academics tend to be dafter than most, I would have had difficulty in crediting the proposal (Letters, THES , December 5) to give a 10 per cent tuition fee discount for near-perfect attendance. It would lead to obligatory roll-calling (as in a primary school), chasing up absentees with immediate warning emails, hearing the appeals of those who would claim that they have lost their bonus because their presence was not noted... need I go on? My workload is big enough, thank you very much.

One can imagine a system allowing the children of academics, who have suffered enough over the past 20 years, to be exempt from paying fees. But too costly? Unfair on the childless? Of course, forget I ever mentioned it.

Geoff Woollen
Reader in French
University of Glasgow