Re: [school-discuss] Updated Coalition Procedures - Members sign up here

[Justin <jriddiough@xxxxxxxxx>]

Michael, these are good questions.  

"I must again mention something regarding the narrow 
definition of "FLOSS" on the website which seems to indicate that "free / 
open resources" are not welcome as members of schoolforge.  This is in 
direct contradiction to the founding principles which allowed for those projects 
that provide web-based open resources which may or may not include providing a 
copy of the underlying "software" that powers the site."

Actually, there are no contradictions to the founding principles in this definition.  Over the years since the founding principles were laid out, the 'web services' landscape has made enough ground that we can start to see what utilities share our view of free and open, and can be used to create even better resources in the future. A site such as Wikipedia, for example, serves as an example of a 'web service' that is free and open - and facilitates the principles of unity and resource building through collaboration that SchoolForge was founded on.  

Free (cost wise) resources are a great thing, but using that along with SchoolForge principles seems flawed.  An example could be that Mac offered to provide their operating system free to the OLPC project for free, which was turned down on the basis that it's not open source.  I think Microsoft has offered their OS for free to schools that were going with open source alternatives.  In both of these cases, it's the licensing of the open source tools that has prompted a response of lower costs/free resources. 

As for SchoolForge Coalition membership, for now your entries are rejected.  I think what you provide are wonderful resources, and I invite you to resubmit your request when your resources can be accessed without any question as to whether they meet the definition of "FLOSS" as provided on the website.  I'm willing to work with you towards reaching that, but if that isn't the direction you want to go - please make this point clear. 

Thanks,
Justin