From: Frank.Topping@puddle.fidonet.org (Frank Topping)
Newsgroups: k12.chat.teacher
Subject: To: Lawrence Chen,  Re: K12 via USENET
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 11:56:38 PST
Organization: Pacific Systems Group

 
Hi Lawrence!
 
Is that better?  ...not perfect, but then again, better than nothing.
 
Re:
 
 LC> Does any school out there participate on K12net from the USENET side? 
 LC> The side where there isn't a To: field.
 LC> 
 LC> Does this cause any problems for you and the students that try to 
 LC> make use of K12?
 
I've simply inserted "To:" here in the "Subj." line to alert you to the
fact that a mesage was waiting for you.  ...alot easier to see from the
usenet platform when you use the popular ReadNews program "rn" and
execute the "=" command to "list" messages not yet read.

...as you are probably aware the "listing" is really stark otherwise -
just revealing msg. # and Subj: line.  ...it's an answer, not the LAST
answer but it'll make life on the USENET side alot nicer.

I'd like to see a standard agreed on for posting in the chat channels
especially for "pen pal" exchanges - "For:" <whomever> on the Subj. line
would be nice and would _really_ facilitate validity to the USENET
implementation until agreements for special trafficking might be reached
with software modification to _handle_ the "To:" line on the USENET
side.  ...from the MS-DOS platform it'd be duck soup to accommodate such
a standard now for inbound USENET mail such that the "To:" line might be
properly built at the "inbound gateway".  ...radically improving the
reliability of mail delivery, satisfaction in overall serviceability of
the K12Net platform, enjoyment, appreciation and self esteem of kids &
teachers alike would be more evenly assured as they "loose" less mail.

Remember:  <failure is a negative re-enforcement>.

I see educators consistently trying very, very hard to succeed at
conceptualizing how electronic collaboration might be a regular part of
curricular pursuit and rightly so, it's one of the most thrilling
frontiers of exploration available today.  ...however, short-sighted
system administrators fail to realize their own failure to avail the
most reasonable means of reliable and convenient mail acquisition and
are _themselves_ then at fault - not the learner / educator - for
standing in the way of anything near universal acceptance of tomorrow's
technology today. ...impeding progress is what it's called, frustrating
themselves, the educator, admin. and end users - our children.  Under
such, seemingly the usual scenario, society as a whole generally loses.

Project jealousy, profit motive "tunnel vision" and capitulation to
those "wining and dining" the sysadmins seem to be at fault out here
in California - don't blame the "rank and file educator".


Frank Topping,...........


K12Net is (sm),(tm) Jack Crawford, Stanley, New York

(He's recognized that children's addresses don't belong in public forums
 now - progress _can_ be made toward reasonable assurance of safety :) )

Thanks, Jack!  ...and thanks for the help advising my participant educators!

 * Origin:........... Peace Child - NorCal K-12Net (916)451-0225 (1:203/454)

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