NationStates Jolt Archive

I know there is a way to set up students on NS, but is there a way to involve homeschooled kids?

The special regions for classes are only to accomodate multiple users on the same network, ie in a computer lab (normal users can't do this, if they all want to join the UN). Homeschooled students do not have the same problem, as they're all... at home... on separate computers.

The special regions for classes are only to accomodate multiple users on the same network, ie in a computer lab (normal users can't do this, if they all want to join the UN). Homeschooled students do not have the same problem, as they're all... at home... on separate computers.
i had friedns growing up with 8 kids being homeschooled in one house

The special regions for classes are only to accomodate multiple users on the same network, ie in a computer lab (normal users can't do this, if they all want to join the UN). Homeschooled students do not have the same problem, as they're all... at home... on separate computers.
Huh? Most families I know of, homeschooled or not, have only one computer. At least, only one that's connected to the internet. And, like Right Thinking Whites says, there can be a lot of students in just one family of homeschoolers. I can still see that as a problem when trying to play Nationstates.

It may be a little different than the problem of public/private schools (who use multiple computers in a single network rather than a single computer), but I still think it's a problem homeschooling students would need help with.

When a teacher wants to set up a school region, we first verify that they are, indeed, a teacher. That is largely impossible for homeschooled students, as we can't easily verify their parents are really being parents. This is more a problem of our limitations for verification than anything, and I don't expect we'll be doing anything for homeschooled students, sorry.

Huh? Most families I know of, homeschooled or not, have only one computer. At least, only one that's connected to the internet. And, like Right Thinking Whites says, there can be a lot of students in just one family of homeschoolers. I can still see that as a problem when trying to play Nationstates.
My family has 6 (my dad and I have 2 each), all of which are internet connected... so that doesn't always hold true. So as hack said, no way to tell if the large mass of PC's is in fact a teacher's doing.

And Hack, I know in some states (NYS is one) you must submit papers to the state to homeschool your child. They respond with a certificate of some kinda allowing you to do so. Would it theoretically be possible then for a homeschooled child to have their parent mail a photocopy of the certificate to the moderator of choice?

My family has 6 (my dad and I have 2 each), all of which are internet connected... so that doesn't always hold true. So as hack said, no way to tell if the large mass of PC's is in fact a teacher's doing.

Out of curiosity (and admittedly off topic), do they have different IP addresses? I'm fairly uneducated about multiple connections to the internet, home networks and the like.

Out of curiosity (and admittedly off topic), do they have different IP addresses? I'm fairly uneducated about multiple connections to the internet, home networks and the like.
Nope, all same router, all have the same EXTERNAL IP adress. While they do have different INTERNAL IP adresses (such that my laptop can be seen as different than my desktop from my sister's PC) they all apear to be one PC in the eyes of the Mods (and anyone else who would run my IP)

Would it theoretically be possible then for a homeschooled child to have their parent mail a photocopy of the certificate to the moderator of choice?Theoretically, I suppose. But do you think I'm gonna give my mailing address to some random person on NS?

Unless the state has some form of online list for registered parents, I don't see this as being particularly likely.

An online one no... but I belive the state board of ed can tell you who is who. Though, at that point, it becomes hard to tell if the person is actually who they claim to be. Perhaps find a way to get Max to open a PO Box for NS? They can send stuff there.

I don't think anyone's going to be setting up a PO Box for this, especially since the number of people it would benefit is rather small.

And it still doesn't provide for any level of verification. Anyone can send a letter claiming to be anyone else. Just like we don't take people at their word when they request via the Mod Centre (we check the school's website), we aren't going to take their word just because they sent a letter.

And, seriously. A PO Box? Come on. That's just silly.

Theoretically, I suppose. But do you think I'm gonna give my mailing address to some random person on NS?

*sends hack pr0n!*

Take that! ;)

*sends hack pr0n!*Well, see, that's a different thing alltogether... *cough* >_>

And Hack, I know in some states (NYS is one) you must submit papers to the state to homeschool your child. They respond with a certificate of some kinda allowing you to do so. Would it theoretically be possible then for a homeschooled child to have their parent mail a photocopy of the certificate to the moderator of choice?

In the state we are in the homeschoolers have to register with the state, but I don't know about any sort of verification that could be done. I suppose a fax or email of a copy of the registration could be done, but it seems like an awful lot of trouble to ask volunteers to go through. I was mainly concerned with the "adult nature" of some of the issues. Is there a NS for kids? I apologize if I am asking old questions that have been answered a hundred times.

I was mainly concerned with the "adult nature" of some of the issues. Is there a NS for kids?
If you take a look at the NationStates for Educators (http://www.nationstates.net/pages/educators.html) page, you'll see that Max addressed this. Each of the issues may be labeled "adult", and school regions "will not receive daily issues that could be considered adult in nature."

In the state we are in the homeschoolers have to register with the state, but I don't know about any sort of verification that could be done. I suppose a fax or email of a copy of the registration could be done, but it seems like an awful lot of trouble to ask volunteers to go through.
Class regions are (from the moderation / admin viewpoint) places where "cheating" is permitted. Multiple people can join the UN from a small set of computers, which is not allowed elsewhere in the game. If we open class regions to anyone who *says* they are teachers, then the chances of cheaters exploiting the loophole and hurting the game for other people increases exponentially. That's why we require email verification from a recognized school, as it prevents that sort of abuse.

I can't think of any solution from this apart from you making a regular, securely passworded region, and play that way. Unfortunately, those 'adult' issues will be included that way. Also, only a single user from each home can join the UN.

It's unfortunate that this process excludes homeschoolers ... but the primary purpose of this game is to sell Max Barry's Jennifer Government, not provide educational resources. It's a nice by-product, and Max is a helluva guy for making it possible, but we can only do what we can do.

I appreciate all your help on this. I understand the reasoning behind the rules and I agree with them. Again, thanks!

Too hard to make sure that your homeschool kids are not actually members of a Devader group.
Not gonna happen unless it is part of one of the sealed Class account setups.

IIRC (and a mod please check me on this) but aren't school regions like little mini-worlds? I seem to recall reading that you allow the multiple UN regions from one PC, but they are stuck in the one region that they created, and no-one can enter or TG them except those that are also of the same group. This considered, wouldn't anyone who is claiming to be a homeschooler really not help at all in the invading/defending game?

... not help at all in the invading/defending game?
The NS UN actually has other effects in the game . . . such as <gasp> the NS UN.

If I designate you as a class, and you spend a few days creating puppets, don't you think you and a few of your buddies could generate a multi-thousand vote swing on every proposal offered?

Class regions can submit proposals and vote on resolutions. That's enough reason right there to prevent non-teachers from using them.

Ah, thanks Fris... I wasn't aware of the last part