> For a large class it might be a bit cumbersome to set it up this way.

What you can do is put most of the configuration options into the [global] section,
such as

[global]
Attributes = ...
Password file = ...
...
Admin user = teacher

[John]
Login user = john
[Joe]
Login user = joe
[Fred]
Login user = fred

In this case, each logbook only requires two lines, while all the other options are
inherited from the [global] section. The "login user" restricts logins only to a
single student, which the teachis has admin rights for all logbooks. The teacher can
reply to individual students by writing into their "personal" logbook, or he can set
up a dedicated teacher logbook which everybody can read (Just omit the 'login user').