This material was mostly rhetoric. Many schools, mine included, do not give the instructors the ability to choose their text books. A syllabus is a great thing to have--as is a course outline and such as that. I go over mine the first day of class, but I have never noticed any of those documents to make much difference in a student's behavior. Some come to class on time, and they would do that even if I did not tell them it is required. Others habitually come in late and break other rules--and the syllabus will never change that. Lesson plans are a must, but the best laid plans of mice and teachers gang aft a'gley.