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