[hackerspaces] Is making alliances with education institutions good for a hacekrspace?

[Florencia Edwards]

Thanks Randall, you are right. I live in Santiago, Chile, Southamerica, and
the education system is very tough here, it's awful. So I would never
consider good to be ally with an institution like that... But I guess
people can change


2013/10/16 Randall G. Arnold <randall.arnold at texrat.net>

> **
>  Florencia,
>
>  Tarrant Makers is also exploring alliances with local traditional
> educational institutions.  I disagree with the broad contention that "an
> alliance only makes this institutions try to use the hackerspace their
> way".  That may be true in some cases but I don't think it's a given.
>
>  In our case, the first university we approached recognized that they are
> hidebound by many bureaucratic limitations and they welcome our combination
> of expertise and freedom.  Instead of imposing on us, they are asking us to
> act with them in ways that they cannot, and supplement their offerings.
>
>  And so what if they *try* to impose?  If that happened to us we would
> politely refuse and step back, making clear that behavior won't serve
> either of our purposes.  I would think that any institution that wants to
> partner with a makerspace/hackerspace has at least some idea of what's
> involved and expected, and any that tries to force their will has no clue
> and makes a poor partner to say the least.  I would wait for them to get
> their stuff together before trying again.
>
>  Randy
>  Tarrant Makers, founder and director
>
>
> On October 16, 2013 at 12:52 PM Florencia Edwards <floev22 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>  I wanted to ask you what you guys think about this. At our hackerspace
> people who manage it are trying to make some strategic alliances with
> universities, schools, culture centers... But I think it's not good. A
> hackerspace is an alternative to this institutions and methods of
> education. Making an alliance only makes this institutions try to use the
> hackerspace their way (they have more power), trying to preasure us to
> adapt to their methods of education, what their students need, special
> workshops... I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, . I love everyone to know about
> a makerspace or hackerspace and to come here to explore, but this
> institutions have a way of imposing or forcing things...
>
>  Do any of you have experience with school or collages, are they good? Can
> you give me some advice?
>
>  Cheers all
>
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.hackerspaces.org/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20131016/149992bb/attachment-0001.html>