At 08:26 AM 8/2/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>SNIP<
Further more I think It would be interesting to get
involved with public
schools in Worcester to promote the use of Linux. I put up
a small page
on my web site to address this topic, which I have called
SLIPS
(Supporting Linux In Public Schools). (btw.. I think the
next LUG topic
should include LTSP! I have this working in a vmware window
using just
one comp)
Also an admirable goal. However, this one presents an even
larger challenge.
Looking at it realistically, school system educators
(teachers as well as administrators) are the most stubborn,
least innovative group I have ever encountered. There are
exceptions in each school but to achieve adoption of
anything which is not brain-dead simple to use is an
impossibility. Linux is far from brain-dead simple to use.
Better to concentrate on promoting business usage and then
let the school systems lag behind as they always have -
unless you are a glutton for punishment.
Sounds like you've had some experience with the education
system! <grin>
As the technology administrator for the Millbury Public
School District, I can concur in part. Something new is
counter to the culture of many schools. We at Millbury have
been using Linux on the server side for many, many years.
And, thanks to Skip Gaede on this list, we also ran Mac
LTSP clients in one of our libraries.
Since schools are not the place for innovation <smirk>, it
is difficult to get Linux on the desktop. In many
instances, it isn't possible due to the lack of Linux
support from most educational software manufacturer. Yes,
we could run Win4Lin and all that but that defeats one of
the big arguments of client software cost. It also limits
and confuses most school staff members who want to evaluate
software. If I say, "Can't do it, we run Linux", guess what
the next comment will be.
In small or specialized environments, I can see great
success with infiltrating Linux. In my district, we strive
to make all clients identical so that it maximizes our
investment. Students can go anywhere in the school and see
the same functionality. For me at the moment, putting Linux
in one of the labs would limit this flexibility.
Linux desktop is not out of the question for schools, just
not the best choice *AT THIS TIME* for all instances. If
the school is not already heavily invested in Windows
curriculum software then some of the many Linux choices
would be a good offering. We, for instance, use a $800/PC
Windows math program to help boost our students' MCAS
scores. We also require all our Sophomores to have a full
year of MS Office which they also get a certificate of
completion.
Like everywhere else, there are politics that go along with
technology decisions. Cost, along with "what are the other
districts our size doing" are the two big questions you
will be confronted with. I have the fortunate situation
where I am allowed the freedom to make the best choice for
our district. Right now, its a combination of Linux and
Windows. If the situation arose that a Linux desktop would
be the best choice for the user, then Linux it will be. In
fact, that may not be too far off judging from the number
of students I've heard of running Linux at home.
If anyone else is interested in discussing this subject
further, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm glad to see any
enthusiasm in bringing OpenSource to schools.
- Rob
