kosmickirsten

INTERNATIONAL HOME ED CONFERENCE
SCOTLAND - 12-14TH SEPT 2008
**KEYNOTE SPEAKER** JOHN TAYLOR GATTO **

LEARNING WITHOUT LIMITS: A CELEBRATION OF CHOICE, DIVERSITY AND
FREEDOM IN EDUCATION

***EARLY BOOKING ADVISED***

Arbroath, Angus, Scotland
Friday 12th September - Sunday 14th September 2008

A weekend long event hosted by Scotland's national home education
support organisation, Schoolhouse, in co-operation with Angus Arts
and part funded by Awards for All, to mark International Freedom in
Education Day 2008.

A one day formal conference on Friday 12th September will focus on
the broad theme of freeing education from the constraints of
traditional schooling and will run in parallel with a weekend
programme of family orientated arts and heritage activities in the
home of the famous Declaration of Arbroath.

***PROGRAMME INFORMATION* **

FORMAL CONFERENCE
Date: Friday 12th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Webster's Memorial Theatre, Arbroath

This event is aimed at all those with an interest in educational
rights and freedoms, including policy makers, formal and informal
educators, youth and community workers, children's reporters,
representatives from children's and family support organisations,
parents, academics, researchers and learners aged 12 and over.
(Please note that this event is not suitable for children under 12).

The confirmed keynote speakers are:

John Taylor Gatto:
Three times New York City teacher of the year and
renowned international speaker and author of many books on educational
reform, including Dumbing Us Down: the hidden history of compulsory
schooling and The Underground History of American Education

Iain Nisbet:
Solicitor and partner at Govan Law Centre's Education Law Unit
in Glasgow which works in partnership with schools, education
authorities, parents' groups and charities to make rights in
education a reality.

The finalised programme will include workshop and panel sessions, as
well as plenty of informal networking opportunities.

ARTS & HERITAGE ACTIVITY DAY
Date: Friday 12th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre

Schoolhouse has teamed up with local charity Angus Arts (run by home
educators) who will be organising a programme of arts activities for
participants of all ages in the local community centre. We are also
hoping to secure the involvement of the Arbroath Pageant Society, and
local history expert Jim McGugan will organise tours of the historic
Abbey.

INFORMAL CONFERENCE & FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Date: Saturday 13th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre

This will be a more informal day aimed exclusively at families
rather than organisations. John Taylor Gatto will deliver a second
presentation in the morning and there will be a number of workshop
sessions focusing on specific areas of interest to families as well
as opportunities for informal discussion. Arts and heritage
activities will run alongside the conference and workshop sessions.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Date: Friday 12th September or Saturday 13th September

Details and venue to be confirmed, but we hope to hold a traditional
ceilidh evening.

CLOSING SESSION
Date: Sunday 14th September, morning only
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre

This will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on the
previous two days' activities and discussions and consider ways
forward for freethinking educators. The morning's programme will be
informal and flexible.

***EVENT COSTS***

The following ticket costs for the 2.5 day event apply to home
educating families and individuals only.
Adult: £25
Young Person (5-17): £15
Under 5: FREE

[These costs do not apply to delegates representing public, private or
voluntary organisations at the formal Friday conference who will be
sent a separate booking form on request].

***BOOKING INFORMATION* **

Parental Responsibility
Parents will remain responsible for their children at all times and
will be expected to accompany them during activities. We regret that
children under the age of 12 will not be admitted to the formal
conference on Friday 12th, but we plan to record the event and make a
DVD available to conference participants at a later date.

Venues
A map of the venues will be sent with booking confirmation. Arbroath
is located approximately 14 miles north of Dundee and 50 miles south
of Aberdeen (nearest airport). It is easily accessible by public
transport and is on the main Aberdeen-London rail route.

Accommodation
Information about local accommodation will be sent with booking
confirmation. There is a static caravan site on the edge of the town,
a good selection of local B&Bs, guest houses and hotels, as well as
campsites within easy reach of the town. Dundee is the nearest city
with a range of accommodation options.

Confidentiality
Your details will be used for event administration purposes only.
Schoolhouse will never disclose your contact information to third
parties without your express consent.

Images
Photographic documentation and video recording may take place
throughout the event. If you prefer not to have your images used,
please let conference staff know when you register.

Cancellation Policy
Fees for bookings cancelled more than 28 days prior to the date of the
conference will be refunded in full. No refunds will be made within
28 days of the event, but substitute participants may be registered.
All cancellations and substitutions must be made in writing and
confirmed in writing by Schoolhouse.

Full details will shortly be posted on our website, but please do not
hesitate to contact us for further information in the meantime. We
very much hope you will be able to join us for our celebration of
freedom in education!

CONTACT US:
website: http://schoolhouse.org.uk/news/events.html

Schoolhouse Home Education Association, PO Box 18044, Glenrothes,
Fife, SCOTLAND, UK, KY7 9AD
E: media@...
T: + 44 1307 463120 (answering machine)

Schoolhouse is a Recognised Scottish Charity No SC026965