SLIPS MA Open Source Bill
New to the list, and wanted to know what you all thought. I'm looking to put together a bill that will require state gov to consider OSS when sending out RFP's. The bill would mirror those being proposed/stalled in other states such as Washington and Texas. I have been in contact with state Rep Robert Spellane who is positive about the subject. I believe he would be more responsive if the WLUG were also supporting this. 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) Tell me your thoughts ! Matt
At 8/1/2003 10:09 PM (Friday), Matt Higgins wrote:
New to the list, and wanted to know what you all thought. I'm looking to put together a bill that will require state gov to consider OSS when sending out RFP's. The bill would mirror those being proposed/stalled in other states such as Washington and Texas. I have been in contact with state Rep Robert Spellane who is positive about the subject. I believe he would be more responsive if the WLUG were also supporting this.
An admirable goal. Hard work but there seems to be some movement (as you have noticed).
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.
Doug, This is a pretty grim view of things with respect to public schools. I know a few teachers here in Worcester who would disagree with most of your comments. However I do agree with some of what you have to say. Schools and the school system are often slow to adopt new technologies and the beaurocracy that its central administration here in Worcester would be a tough challenge. With that said I have spoken with a few teachers and administrators who are very unhappy with the state of the network in there schools. Systems crashing, software not useful because of unstable systems, and I have found that frustration is often a big motivator for change! Not to mention a few other things a that are happening right now that may help tip the scales in favor of Linux. (Ok I'll mention a few ;) Shrinking school budgets EOL of NT (Most schools still use NT at there core and in most labs) XP is too expensive and requires network wide upgrades not to mention the new licence scheme. Linux desktop has significantly improved to the point that a well configured desktop could be used by a "brain-dead" person. KDE.edu etc ... ... ... On Sat, 2003-08-02 at 08:26, Doug Chamberlin wrote:
At 8/1/2003 10:09 PM (Friday), Matt Higgins wrote:
New to the list, and wanted to know what you all thought. I'm looking to put together a bill that will require state gov to consider OSS when sending out RFP's. The bill would mirror those being proposed/stalled in other states such as Washington and Texas. I have been in contact with state Rep Robert Spellane who is positive about the subject. I believe he would be more responsive if the WLUG were also supporting this.
An admirable goal. Hard work but there seems to be some movement (as you have noticed).
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.
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At 8/3/2003 09:21 PM (Sunday), Matt Higgins wrote:
This is a pretty grim view of things with respect to public schools.
Yeah, it is a rather grim view. I am pretty discouraged by the attitudes I've seen in schools (public and private) over the past couple of decades. On a positive note, if what I said has not completely discouraged YOU then perhaps you have the energy (or secret decoder ring) necessary to prevail. Hope so!
I know a few teachers here in Worcester who would disagree with most of your comments.
Like I said, there are always a few people who maintain a hopeful outlook.
However I do agree with some of what you have to say. Schools and the school system are often slow to adopt new technologies and the beaurocracy that its central administration here in Worcester would be a tough challenge.
That's my main point. School systems are far more difficult to move than most businesses. Good luck with it!
On 1 Aug 2003, Matt Higgins wrote: <snip> MH> Further more I think It would be interesting to get involved with public MH> schools in Worcester to promote the use of Linux. I put up a small page MH> on my web site to address this topic, which I have called SLIPS MH> (Supporting Linux In Public Schools). (btw.. I think the next LUG topic MH> should include LTSP! I have this working in a vmware window using just MH> one comp) <snip> Matt, Do a google search on linux education -- there are some pretty heavy-duty efforts under way to promote the use of linux in school systems. There was a report on that in /. recently, too. Bill
Bill Mills-Curran wrote:
Matt,
Do a google search on linux education -- there are some pretty heavy-duty efforts under way to promote the use of linux in school systems. There was a report on that in /. recently, too.
Bill
"SEUL/edu is dedicated to furthering the use of Linux and other open resources in education. This covers all aspects of educational uses of Linux, by teachers, parents, and students." http://seul.org/edu/ they prepare regular reports, too. http://seul.org/edu/reports.html baris
Baris, Check my response to Bill. On Sat, 2003-08-02 at 12:56, Baris Hasdemir wrote:
Bill Mills-Curran wrote:
Matt,
Do a google search on linux education -- there are some pretty heavy-duty efforts under way to promote the use of linux in school systems. There was a report on that in /. recently, too.
Bill
"SEUL/edu is dedicated to furthering the use of Linux and other open resources in education. This covers all aspects of educational uses of Linux, by teachers, parents, and students." http://seul.org/edu/
they prepare regular reports, too. http://seul.org/edu/reports.html
baris
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Bill, I have done a significant amount of research on this topic. I have built a small site dedicated to it. The difference between these efforts and the ideas I have for SLIPS is I want to take it to the streets. These efforts are largely passive support groups. With SLIPS I want to go to the schools. Offer to setup free labs with thin clients using LTSP. I would like to develop curricula, and lesson plans, with the help of teachers, and offer night classes on the topic. This is a lot of work but if the folks here in the Worcester LUG are willing to help I think it is achievable. On Sat, 2003-08-02 at 12:28, Bill Mills-Curran wrote:
On 1 Aug 2003, Matt Higgins wrote:
<snip> MH> Further more I think It would be interesting to get involved with public MH> schools in Worcester to promote the use of Linux. I put up a small page MH> on my web site to address this topic, which I have called SLIPS MH> (Supporting Linux In Public Schools). (btw.. I think the next LUG topic MH> should include LTSP! I have this working in a vmware window using just MH> one comp) <snip>
Matt,
Do a google search on linux education -- there are some pretty heavy-duty efforts under way to promote the use of linux in school systems. There was a report on that in /. recently, too.
Bill
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On Fri, Aug 01, 2003 at 10:09:59PM -0400, Matt Higgins wrote:
New to the list, and wanted to know what you all thought. I'm looking to put together a bill that will require state gov to consider OSS when sending out RFP's. The bill would mirror those being proposed/stalled in other states such as Washington and Texas. I have been in contact with state Rep Robert Spellane who is positive about the subject. I believe he would be more responsive if the WLUG were also supporting this.
I think this is a great idea. I live in NY now... I kinda wish I had the free time to mirror your efforts here. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wouldn't mind updates as your efforts progress. Keep us informed!
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).
This is cool too. Just want to check that these are two separate efforts. (Your subject line seems to imply that it is one.) I think advocating Linux in schools is a great idea. But anything that you intend to become a law, you obviously want to avoid mentioning any specific OSS projects. I mean, whether a municipality chooses Linux, FreeBSD, OpenOffice, Mozilla, or whatever, it's a win for Free/Open software. -Chuck
Chuck, Yes these are two separate movements/topics. I attempted to be platform independent when discussing the bill but Linux specific with respect to SLIPS. I agree this should have been two posts but I kinda had a lot to say and wanted to get it out ;) Thanks for the encouragement ! On Sat, 2003-08-02 at 12:49, Chuck Homic wrote:
On Fri, Aug 01, 2003 at 10:09:59PM -0400, Matt Higgins wrote:
New to the list, and wanted to know what you all thought. I'm looking to put together a bill that will require state gov to consider OSS when sending out RFP's. The bill would mirror those being proposed/stalled in other states such as Washington and Texas. I have been in contact with state Rep Robert Spellane who is positive about the subject. I believe he would be more responsive if the WLUG were also supporting this.
I think this is a great idea. I live in NY now... I kinda wish I had the free time to mirror your efforts here. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wouldn't mind updates as your efforts progress. Keep us informed!
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).
This is cool too. Just want to check that these are two separate efforts. (Your subject line seems to imply that it is one.) I think advocating Linux in schools is a great idea. But anything that you intend to become a law, you obviously want to avoid mentioning any specific OSS projects. I mean, whether a municipality chooses Linux, FreeBSD, OpenOffice, Mozilla, or whatever, it's a win for Free/Open software.
-Chuck
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participants (5)
-
Baris Hasdemir -
Bill Mills-Curran -
Chuck Homic -
Doug Chamberlin -
Matt Higgins