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Re: [school-discuss] Politics & FLOSS



I think it's a great idea. Let me know if I can provide you with fodder (lower cost, improved reliability, increased test scores, uniformity of school/home applications, etc. I can also help put a presentation together with you to send them if you like. Check out the MorrisBrandon technology portion of the web site with my presentations, and use as you need. Plus, feel free to get her office in contact with me, Mike Huffman (Indiana's DoE CTO), Gail Waldo (Atlanta Public Schools), and there is now a Linux Open Source pilot school in Dekalb County (next door to Atlanta, I briefed them last year on the system). So lots more case studies they can review are available now than when I first did it here in Atlanta.

Also, Scott Belford was dabbling in politics last I heard (don't know the outcome of his election), perhaps he has some advice here.

Best, Daniel


Joel Kahn wrote:
I'm tossing around the idea of contacting the new
(elected 2006) Democratic junior US Senator here in
Missouri, Claire McCaskill, and suggesting that she
push for hearings related to the use of FLOSS in
education. There are a couple of things that make
me think she might be a good choice for this:

1. She is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee's
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation.

2. Before she was elected to the Senate, she served as
Missouri State Auditor, and established a reputation
for ruthlessly pursuing, and fighting to eradicate,
financial waste, especially in the field of education.
Since "more bang for the buck" is one of the strongest
selling points for FLOSS, she should be especially
interested in its possibilities.

I know that some of you (unlike me) have significant
experience dealing with connections between politicians
and FLOSS. (Are you there, Daniel Howard?) I'm open to
relevant ideas, suggestions, comments, enhancements, &c.

Joel



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Daniel Howard
President and CEO
Georgia Open Source Education Foundation