Credit where credit's due

My first class after ten months away. I explain what the course involves. I tell them what they'll be learning and how we'll be doing it and what book we'll be using, I give them the usual pep talk, making them feel good about they already know, excited about what they'll know in ten weeks' time. I'm funny, I'm warm, I'm encouraging, I'm student-friendly. I'm hot shit. This is what teaching is all about, I think.

Finally, I ask them if they have any questions. A hand shoots up.

'What happens if I fail the exam? How many credits will I get?'

Dispirited? Yes.