Allowing students (or lawprofs) to bring their children to a law school classroom seems unnecessarily punitive to the kids.

I think everyone has had a time when there was little option other than to bring a child to work. People understand exceptional situations.

In another vein, I took my family with me to Switzerland early this summer where I was to spend one day as a guest lecturer. The original plan was for the rest of my family to bop around Zurich on the day I was teaching. But my sons, big teens who know how to stay quiet, wanted to go see me in action, and the regular professor said he had no problem with it. At one point, we were going over a case, and I could tell my younger son wanted to say something. I subtly shook my head as I scanned the lecture hall for comments. I appreciated his engagement and pluck, but he got the message that he wasn't really part of the class.

I have only had a student bring a child once, and I had no problem with it. I can't imagine why either the prof or the student would want to make it a regular occurrence, so I think we all regulate ourselves. I had my five-year-old during our "Meet the Professors" hour during orientation because his hockey camp had just ended a block away. I've also had students bring visiting girlfriends and parents, which are probably more distracting to me than kids! But it doesn't bother me.

On a different note, a kid at my high school went to class and the lab with his mom while she was getting a Ph.D. in Biology. He then grew up to map the human genome and write "Journey of Man": http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Man-Genetic-Odyssey/dp/069111532X.

At the University of Washington, we have a Remote Learning Room where law students who have to bring an infant to school can watch and listen to class and keep an eye on the child without distracting others.

Claire Sherman-Thomas Remote Learning Center

The Remote Learning Center is a unique feature of the building that allows students with young children to participate in class while taking care of their children. The Center has a number of features, including a sink, small refrigerator, microwave, and soft furniture. There are two private rooms designed for lactation purposes. Four workstations with audio/visual feeds permit parents with children to listen to and/or watch sessions in the majority of the Gates Hall classrooms.

An occasional infant or child in the classroom is one thing, but bringing an infant to law school, for every lecture (and ours lasted 3 hours each) makes it hard on the classmates, who have to try to focus with a baby whimpering or crying at times. I cannot imagine that this poor child (who was only a month old) enjoyed coming to school for a whole semester and its first few months on the planet. Poor baby was getting his diapers changed right on the communal desks!

In my opinion, it
should not be allowed, unless it is a "no babysitter emergency".
Please, if somebody knows what the law in California says about this, or which agency controls this, let me know. If I decide to get another graduate degree, I really would rather not have to deal with this.