<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV><DIV>Ronald Wertlen wrote:</DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">As Leone says, we are all busy people. Verbosity tends to obscure the<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">point. It also makes it more difficult for future generations to go back<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">and see what the cause of current problems may be (as far as something<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">like that could be read in a mailing list archive). I hope list<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">submissions are kept to the point and do not ramble on too long.</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The main point is that the standard of education in South Africa is so poor in rural areas - even compared to the majority of developing countries - that nothing short of radical adjustment to foreseeable realities is even remotely feasible. Half measures will not work. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Foreseeable realities include:</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>* ubiquitous, affordable internet access (it's easier than supplying taps, and a more important basic right)</DIV><DIV>* ubiquitous educational tools: PC/XO</DIV><DIV>* ubiquitous adaptable content / collaboration (hierarchically reviewed)</DIV><DIV>* accurate monitoring and reporting</DIV><DIV>* social / organic groups of collective interest (shared information systems)</DIV><DIV>* on-line mentoring</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Scale: by bootstrapping the syllabus to the OS framework - kids can create content and compilations while doing typing exercises.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I'm not advocating that 'successful' schools change their models immediately - but rather that the XO be supplemented (with content) into rural areas as a High Priority. We don't have time for a slow debate.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>And "good enough" evolutionary theories are not the point. History has never presented mankind with a bigger opportunity to fuck up. To avert an imminent social crisis we need to move toward the open communications that technology affords us. Immediately.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV>-Jeff</DIV><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>