Wikipedia:Education Program/Structure proposals/Keep it Simple


 * Please list your name and/or Wikipedia username.
 * Tom Fish

I would like to see the structure simplified, streamlined, and backed with existing structures. Currently there are 2 US based chapters (DC & NYC) and one proto-chapter (New England) as well as a chapter in Canada and Mexico. The best people to house the education program would be the existing chapters. This is for two reasons. First, an independent organization would be trusted less by the community than the current WMF backed program. Second, the bureaucracy and overhead curve is too high at this time for the education program to be fully independent. How would this organization stay financially solvent?
 * What idea(s) do you have for what the new structure for the U.S. and Canada Wikipedia Education Programs could look like?

The work group would evolve into the committee running the program. The WMF, the Wikipedia Community, the several chapters found in North America, and the education institutions that host the classes should all be able to appoint or elect a number of members of the committee. A majority of the seats need to be directly elected by the community. It is the group who will bear the brunt of the work if a class goes sour through the clean up methods.
 * How would you ensure this new structure involves all key stakeholders, including academics and the Wikipedia community?


 * What are potential pitfalls of this approach?
 * Many voices in the community would like to see the education program dismantled. The running committee could have members on it who would attempt to block anything that would not achieve that goal.
 * The chapters may not be willing to accept the new structure and it would be parent-less.

Per WP:BURO and User:Antandrus/observations on Wikipedia behavior may wikipedians do not like hierarchy or formal authority. The community is not like workers in a shop. It can not be controlled. All way remember:
 * Any other comments about your proposal?

A high proportion of Wikipedians are people with issues with authority. That's why many people are attracted to Wikipedia in the first place.