Oh Yes, Home educating conferences are probably the epitimone of the sort of 
environment that includes children as an intrinsic part of the 
community....home edders, more than most parents, are aware of how 
unfriendly societies can be to children for they often have their children 
in places where they are not expected to be (ie anywhere in public during 
school hours). Teresa, your description shows so clearly how really 
practicing what we preach can be a win for everyone.
Karleen Gribble
Australia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Teresa Pitman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:24 AM
Subject: babies and children at conferences


> This is an issue I feel quite passionate about. I think that the presence 
> of
> babies and children enriches all our lives and find it very sad that they
> are so often segregated. I very much prefer speaking when there are
> babies/children there. I feel more relaxed and comfortable. Maybe it's the
> oxytocin in the air. Maybe it's just that the babies remind us so clearly
> about why we are there.
>
> Years ago, the educator and author John Holt came to Toronto to speak 
> about
> home schooling and other educational issues. Advertising for his talk said
> children were welcome. I showed up with my 8-month-old in a sling. As John
> prepared to talk, he set up the stage with some craft tables and a variety
> of quiet toys for children to play with, and invited any interested 
> children
> to come down and play on the stage. This was nice for the parents as they
> could see their children and the slides as well. Some parents came and sat
> on the stage too. Then John put up his podium in the middle of this and 
> gave
> his presentation.
>
> From time to time, one of the children would walk over, tug on his coat, 
> and
> want to show him something they'd made or ask for his help. He would say 
> to
> the audience "excuse me a minute" and pause in his talk to respond to the
> child. Then he continued on with his presentation, until the next small
> interruption.
>
> At the end of his talk, as people lined up to speak to him, he again 
> excused
> himself,  came over to where I was sitting and said "I've been admiring 
> your
> beautiful baby all evening" and kissed my baby (who had fallen asleep) on
> the forehead.
>
> Did the interruptions stop me from hearing and learning from his
> presentations? Not for a second. I still remember a great deal of what he
> said. And I also remember what he demonstrated without talking: true 
> respect
> for children.
>
> Teresa Pitman
>
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