[seul-edu] Linux for Georgia Schools

[aaron <aaron@pd.org>]

Hello SEUL-edu!

My name is Aaron Ruscetta and I just wanted to introduce myself as a new 
member on the list. I'm here to help support a recently formed Atlanta 
Linux Enthusiasts (ALE) SIG that has come together to promote and expand 
the use of Open Source and Free (as in Free Speech) computer and IT 
systems [aka Linux & GNU]  in Georgia's various private and public 
schools. Given that our State just ranked #50 in the list of 51 State SAT 
score averages, we are at least assured that our efforts can do no harm, 
though we clearly have our work against the monopoly interests cut out 
for us. (-: BTW, it was Washington DC that came in last at #51, but that 
statistic isn't so much of a surprise. ;-).

We have about 12 people in our initial group, including a few parents 
with children still in K12 schooling, and we have a nice mix of skills 
and experience on the project.  This group has met a couple of times so 
far and we have noted some general directions for processes and goals. 
Our current concern is to formalize those ideas to provide focus and 
consensus for our efforts.

Of the Linux in Education sites and organizations that I have researched 
so far, SEUL-edu appears to be one of the larger, more active and most 
organized around. We expect that your group's standing work will provide 
some excellent informational resources to help us move our symbiotic 
organization forward. 

At the moment, we have two organizational items in progress: First, we 
are working on a Mission Statement to clarify our overall intentions. As 
an adjunct to that, we are initiating research and data collection to 
better determine how computers are presently being used and/or abused in 
various school environments so that we can precisely target the 
requirements and goals for our Linux and Open Source systems.

We expect ample ideas for framing our Mission Statement can be had by 
simply looking at the statements of similar organizations. However, 
before our members go diving too far into the SEUL-edu Report Archives 
and other research sites, I'm hoping someone here can direct us to 
existing research and documentation that specifically addresses the 
issues of Computer Use and Applications in K-12 educational environments.

Any and all help for our fledgling group will be hugely appreciated!

Sincere thanks for your attention,
peace
Aaron Ruscetta
Linux for GA Schools

( LINGAS? ...I think we also need a little help with a name that forms a 
better acronym, too! ;-)