From: Sean Dockray <sean@e-rat.org>
Subject: The Public School class (March)
Date: March 28th 2008

The Public School - 16 March 2008

We spent a good deal of time discussing the position of The Public
School with respect to other pedagogical projects (or other
alternative spaces providing services). Two in particular:

http://freeuniversityla.org/
Hector speaking about Free University LA (which seems to have run
during 2004), referring to how it spun off independent study groups
spawned from classes, continued to use the mailing lists, etc. This
relationship between class and network is an important site for any
school -- obviously it happens at an informal level, but how is it
cultivated by the nature of the class itself or the technology?
Website comments on a class are now emailed to everyone who signs up
for a class, something Patti brought up in The Public School -
February. DAN has been discussing how classes might lead into
exhibition or other public outcome, which positions the class as
productive body.

http://santacruz.freeskool.org
Jorge had some experience with the Santa Cruz Free Skool, which
functions quite effectively and actively (within SC's unqiue
atmosphere). The calendar is made quarterly and is distributed all
around town. Most of the onus is put on the people who want to teach
the classes to donate time and materials. Sometimes nobody will show
up for a class.

Also discussed was how people find TPS, what the goal of it is, what
demographic it serves (based on reading the class list, it's not DIY/
punk, the way Santa Cruz is, but something more focused towards
cultural workers), how partnerships and institutional networking can
function.

Hector said he would propose a class about free schools (perhaps a
panel discussion) that would cover a range of initiatives from 16
beaver to Cooper Union to Free Uni.

This class would also touch on the phenomenon of art gallery
educational projects eclipsing the community centers that had served
this function (and were more rooted in punk rock).

What is the role of the technology classes? Chandler says the school
is trying to keep technology accessible (through education and/or
open source focus).

Finally, we began a discussion about how to make use of the
educational materials that are coming onto the internet in the form
of academic lecture videos or MIT open courseware. Why is it that
we're more likely to focus on something when we're in a group in a
place than when we're sitting at the computer with this stuff
ostensibly at our fingertips?

Finally, in point form:
- watching lecture videos followed by discussion as a class
- downloaded video before a class
- TPS license plate frames
- laclau and mouffe -- committee as theater, acknowledging power
relations
- infosheet on TPS that is downloadable and printable
- TPS emails are too short. this is a kind of publication.
- AAAARG.ORG meeting to produce theory classes