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something new is right in Minnesota
2012-Oct-20, Saturday 06:22 pmMinnesota government has changed its attitude to free online education. After public condemnation of its policy, the director of the Minnesota Office Of Higher Education said to Slate:
Coursera has not changed its terms of service to reflect this new policy. I doubt they will do anything until the law itself changes. This swift change by government gives me hope that Minnesota can still value people more than profits. We'll see if the state legislature is able to fulfill its obligation in this matter. I've removed Governor Dayton from my automatic veto list. In the next election, he'll just have to prove to me that he is superior to whichever 3rd-party candidates challenge him. :)
It's still worrisome, though, that the proverbial stage is set in this matter. Ars Technica spoke with another Minnesota official who claimed "that many other states have similar laws on their books". When laws have the potential to convert free services into fees, then they eventually will. That's what greed does. It bullies people into perpetuating the system, like gangsters threatening people for protection money. That's why government should always serve people rather than profits.
On most days, capitalism looks like a Ferengi invention.
I have an idea for a short video that would explain the danger of great imbalance of wealth among a population. I signed up for the Udacity free online course in HTML5 graphics so I could learn the skills necessary to produce it. Coincidentally, shortly afterward, the news arrived about this Minnesota policy that seems to favor paid classes over free classes.
"When the legislature convenes in January, my intent is to work with the Governor and Legislature to appropriately update the statute to meet modern-day circumstances. Until that time, I see no reason for our office to require registration of free, not-for-credit offerings."
Coursera has not changed its terms of service to reflect this new policy. I doubt they will do anything until the law itself changes. This swift change by government gives me hope that Minnesota can still value people more than profits. We'll see if the state legislature is able to fulfill its obligation in this matter. I've removed Governor Dayton from my automatic veto list. In the next election, he'll just have to prove to me that he is superior to whichever 3rd-party candidates challenge him. :)
It's still worrisome, though, that the proverbial stage is set in this matter. Ars Technica spoke with another Minnesota official who claimed "that many other states have similar laws on their books". When laws have the potential to convert free services into fees, then they eventually will. That's what greed does. It bullies people into perpetuating the system, like gangsters threatening people for protection money. That's why government should always serve people rather than profits.
"9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
144. There's nothing wrong with charity...as long as it winds up in your pocket."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_Acquisition
10. Greed is eternal.
144. There's nothing wrong with charity...as long as it winds up in your pocket."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_Acquisition
On most days, capitalism looks like a Ferengi invention.
I have an idea for a short video that would explain the danger of great imbalance of wealth among a population. I signed up for the Udacity free online course in HTML5 graphics so I could learn the skills necessary to produce it. Coincidentally, shortly afterward, the news arrived about this Minnesota policy that seems to favor paid classes over free classes.