[eDebate] Question for those Attending the Liberty Tournament

[NEIL BERCH]

Kudos to Mike, Heather, and the Liberty program for being on the cutting 
edge with this initiative.  People have been talking about this for a few 
years, but this is one of the first circumstances I know of where a 
tournament has made these arrangements.  My own kids are probably too old 
for such a program now, but it would have made things easier when they were 
younger.  More importantly, I know that for some students, child care is an 
issue affecting access to debate.  People have made informal arrangements at 
some tournaments, but this is better!

I hope you will let the community know how this turns out.--Neil

--Neil Berch
West Virginia University



>From: "Hall, Michael P. (Debate)" <mphall at liberty.edu>

>To: <edebate at ndtceda.com>

>Subject: [eDebate] Question for those Attending the Liberty Tournament

>Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:31:13 -0400

>

>The Liberty University Debate Tournament is considering offering child

>care at this year's tournament.  Our experience over the last three

>years have convinced Heather and I that debate is unnecessarily hard on

>families.  Conversations with other coaches confirm that many of you

>feel the same way.  As one small step, we'd like to know if there are

>debaters or coaches planning on attending the tournament who would take

>advantage of child care.  We haven't worked out all of the details but

>we would most likely offer on-site childcare for the entire day.

>Parents could pick up and drop off their children throughout the day as

>they pleased.  We'd take care of food, toys and entertainment, and naps

>if necessary.  I know there are many other barriers to bringing children

>to a debate tournament, but we don't want a lack of childcare to be one

>of them.

>

>I don't need to know anything definitive at this point, but in order to

>properly plan I'd like to know if there's any demand for this service.

>If you think you might be interested, please let me know.

>

>Michael P. Hall

>Acting Director of Debate

>Liberty University

>Lynchburg, VA 24502

>(434) 582-2080

>




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