University of Memphis bans children staying on campus

AP ^ | 7/10/5

[SmithL]

MEMPHIS - A new policy prohibits University of Memphis employees and students from routinely bringing children to campus.

"We're concerned about the safety issue of children on the campus as well as disruption of that work environment and classroom environment, particularly when they are unsupervised," said Mary Ann Camp, assistant vice president for human resources.

There are exceptions to the new rules, including one-time emergencies. Prospective students or those attending music classes, sporting events and the like also are allowed to bring children.

For university employees who have children enrolled at the Campus School, the children will no longer be permitted to stay on campus after school.

"One of the things that has been a major concern for me is the fact that young kids left class at 2:30. A lot of them simply walked across campus by themselves to go to their parent's or grandparent's office until it was time to go home," Camp said.

Faculty senate president Sheryl Maxwell said the new policy has caused some grumbling.

"It will cause various faculty members to look a little differently at their own situation if they, for instance, have their children in Campus School. They'll have to figure out what to do," she said.

The university has a day-care center, but it's available only to students. Charles Lee, vice president of business and finance, said the school is considering day-care options for employees as well.

[SmithL]

So much for advance placement.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

How ridiculous. Why make a big issue of letting "children" on campus.....our whole univeristy academic system is just one big nursery school anyways!

[SteveMcKing]

I can't make this up-

I was in my senior year of college amongst a perfectly mature class (we're all seniors, so we've "made it"). Our professor on the first day of class gives us a lengthy, stern, and rather patronizing lecture on our need to "act professional" (because we're all dumb kids in her mind... some of us at age 30+). For the entire period, she had her 3 year old kid playing by her feet and even swinging on her leg at times, occasionally saying "shh, honey, mummy is busy right now..."

It really made me mad that she would talk down to us, considering the scene she created.

[somniferum]

I can see the need for this. Ive had several classes where a mom would bring her little darling to class. While I can understand having to do so in an emergency, it is well beyond inconsiderate to everyone else in the class to bring a crying toddler to class regularly.. and don't even get me started on people who bring them to the movies =)

[armymarinemom]

I wonder what has been going on at that campus? When I attended that college in the early eighties the University School students really didn't cause any trouble. Most of the youngsters stayed in the parents office and did homework.