Updated 3rd. February 2001.
Spring Newsletter 2001
New Contact Address: Francis Stoner, Chair, The Old Postoffice, Morebath, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 9AL. pager
The TSC continues to offer support to home educating Travellers, as well as providing a forum, giving Travellers a chance to take part in discussions about education and helping to create stronger links with the wider community.
More Travellers are getting involved creating new energy for new ideas. The Research Report is now available. There are site schools and some children have been able to gain experience in IT use (see report below). This was through the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
We continue to Support the school on site at El Morreon, providing educational facilities for multi-cultural Traveller children. A lot of individuals and organisations are showing an interest in what is being done.
If you have a project that you would like to accomplish, please write down a brief description and send it to the chairman. We may be able to help locate funding or provide support.
We are keen to recruit budding journalists and other volunteers to help with writing and producing this newsletter. We want more input from Travellers, especially children, in future issues. So if you have any news Mike is co-ordinating the new editorial team. Telephone messages to 0 845 281 8571. (BT local-rate).
A member of the TSC Publicity Committee, Ed's project, is teaching on a Travellers' Site, in South West Wales, for the winter. With about £400 funds he has raised, including £50 from TSC.
There have been some changes in the organisation of the TSC. Of personnel, and little funding; other than any Newsletter Subscriptions, and possible click through earnings from this web sites' affiliates. links
Thanks go to Lucy, a long time Trustee, organiser of Kids Camps, and Treasurer of the TSC for the last 2 years. Lucy is still an advisor, and on the Publicity Committee.
We are glad to welcome Kaye as the new Treasurer of the TSC. Also a member of the Publicity Committee. Kaye continues to teach on site in Pembrokeshire, with her own funds, raised by running a Cafe.
The Autumn Newsletter was mailed out in October, targeting professional bodies, about 400 copies.
There are two computers still available for use by out of school children, on site. Both have a solar power supply included. One Laptop PC with the jelly batteries and solar panels, had been out on a site for 3 months, and has now been allocated to a traveller family. Another System is available now from Kaye, (in Pembrokshire, Wales) to go out to a site.
Written proposals, detailing the numbers of children and the name of an adult
willing to take responsibility for the equipment, should be sent to the
co-ordinator:
Kaye, TSC, Felin Bryn, Brynberian, Crymych, Pembrokeshire. SA67 3TL.
Tel. 0 1239 891343 (please don't call from 10am to 1pm weekdays GMT)
email
Janet: problems arose over a suitable space where the computer could be used by the kids when they wanted to use it - solved by using an empty trailer until the owner returned. An alternative space has now been agreed on. Another problem was the batteries and solar panel are hard to move around. A way round this would be to have a new battery in the laptop so that it could be used independently of the power supply for longer, as it only worked for minutes without being connected (seems to have got worse). It has mostly been used by Liam (11) who has some computer experience already. He found it easy to use but would have liked more software. Liam helped Sian (8) to use the computer and helped her gain confidence to use it on her own. She was then able to play games with Ari (5). As the weather gets worse and kids are inside more it will be a useful tool for education and entertainment.
Psi: The software on hard disk could mostly be discarded as remains
of previous owners. Computer expert could reformat the hard disk and reinstall
correct version of Windows. (Before this can be done another disk drive needs
installing to reboot from). [ -this is not usually advisable with the laptop
power management versions of Windows - Editor.]
New educational software needed. Maybe a new computer?
Power supply - As it is 12v DC to 240v AC to 19v DC powers computer which
runs between 6-19v DC. Is this necessary? Can't a plug for direct 12 to 19v
be bought?
Inverter gave electric shocks via computer if it is kept outside and gets
damp. Solar panels expensive - unlikely to repay amount of ungreen energy
used to make them.
[ -Second laptop with 13-16v input has a direct lead from its solar charger,
and is now available from Kaye. This does not need any 240 volts or Inverter.
The Third needs a unique connector cable, and an alternative power supply,
eg. a 24 volt Windcharger, or Solar Panels and "BP Solar" battery regulator.
With either 1. new 12v and 6v batteries in series, or 2. new 24v batteries
and a custom built 5 Amp. 19 Volt regulator. The First system with the Invertor
will be swapped out, and modified to run on low voltage for safety. The Printer
will still require the 240 volt Invertor, which will have to be made safe
by better housing and cooling, with good earthing, and RCCD protection, or
an Isolating Transformer. - Editor]
Gill: I was worried about computer / solar panels getting broken, worried about kids using computer incorrectly but as they know more about it than me, it worked out OK. They used computer mostly without supervision and behaved very responsibly, as older kids Liam and Shadey, who know what to do, took charge and helped younger kids. Adults were only called in to ensure everyone had a fair amount of time. The problem when adults tried to use the computer with the kids was that the adults ended up taking over. It turned into a good opportunity for the kids to teach each other. Overall we felt the kids benefited from using the computer in several ways. BUT - could do with more software - this does not have to be expensive as we managed to get disks at a car boot sale for £1.
A new photographic project for Gypsies and other Travellers.
influence the way the media and non-Travellers see you.
Picture This is a nationwide photography project to create a visual archive for the future. Photographs from Picture This will feature in the Travellers Times and make the magazine more accessible to Gypsies and other Travellers.
Help and knowledge is needed to reach Gypsies and other Travellers. Traveller' Times needs Gypsies and other Travellers to photograph their lives and tell their stories. There are Free Camera Packs for Gypsies and other Travellers. Call us on 0 29 2087 4580 if you know of
Picture This has been set up by Travellers' Times and the Rural Media Company with support from Comic Relief. Travellers' Times was founded four years ago to help Gypsies and other Travellers and related organisations share information and contacts. Travellers' Times enables Gypsies and other Travellers to put over their views. It has an estimated readership of 3000 and rising fast. If you want to know more contact Rachel Morris, Co-ordinator, Traveller Law Research Unit, Cardiff Law School, PO Box 427, Cardiff. CF10 3XJ. email tlru-l@cf.ac.uk
Covers:Educational need among New Traveller children, background and
context, the people, family structures, the children, sites - camps, co-ops,
sustainability initiatives - homes, the "scene", occupations, school or
otherwise, patterns of schooling, reasons for home educating, site stability
and school attendance, issues in current provision, New Travellers abroad,
ideological and practical issues, affirming features.
Published June 2000. 35 pages. Price £5.00 to individuals, £7.50
to institutions. Cheques payable to Travellers School Charity
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The Travellers' School Charity,
P.O. Box 2, Goodwick,Pembrokeshire. SA64 0ZQ
UK Registered Charity No. 327731