[WikiEN-l] Process wonkery

[Mark Gallagher]

G'day George,

> Just for reference, we're looking at a worst case roughly 124,000
> school stubs ( http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/tables/dt04_085.asp
> ) for the US.

The problem is not, and never was, the number of schools in the USA[0]. 
   Quoting numbers specific to the USA gives us a picture that is: a) 
utterly irrelevant, and b) extremely unflattering to the painter.

How many schools are there, world-wide?  How low do we go before we 
decide that a particular school is not worth an article?  How do we keep 
these articles to a high (okay, not-completely-buggered) standard?  The 
non-American would add the question: why are non-American schools never 
considered in these discussions?, but not wishing to be seen as 
mean-spirited by his friends across the Pacific, he won't.

> I understand those that disagree, but I think the categorical include
> pseudopolicy for schools makes sense.  They're of immense interest to
> most parents, the school system has 72 million odd Americans in it,
> and categorical inclusionism here is not in any way throwing Wikipedia
> into disrepute or threatening our server load or diskspace.

The schools debate is over, and we lost.  I can cope with that.  Further 
arguing is pointless, and leads only to ill-will.  If we *must* refight 
the debate, however, could you at least offer relevant arguments?

(The US school system has approximately 72m Americans?  If the school 
system has three schools in it: A with 36m students, B with 35.9999m 
students, and C with 100 students ... and what if the Canadian school 
system had 144m Canadians?  And the Mexican 288m?)


[0] I *have* seen people who are otherwise "school inclusionists" argue
     for deletion of schools in Asia on notability grounds; such people
     are known as "those without credibility" or, if I'm feeling
     charitable[1], "Americans".

[1] Or particularly uncharitable!

-- 
Mark Gallagher
"What?  I can't hear you, I've got a banana on my head!"
- Danger Mouse