Re: [school-discuss] How to present Linux to schools

[Randy Smith <randys@amigo.net>]

On Thu, 25 Apr 2002, Kenneth Kousky wrote:

> Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 19:01:47 -0500
> From: Kenneth Kousky <kenkousky@hotmail.com>
> Reply-To: "schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net"
>     <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
> To: "schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net"
>     <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
> Subject: Re: [school-discuss] How to present Linux to schools
>
> have you looked at:
> http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,45862,00.html
>

Yes. It was that article, and the discussion on Slashdot, that started me
tinking about this.

>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Randy Smith
> Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 11:04 AM
> To: schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net
> Subject: Re: [school-discuss] How to present Linux to schools
>
> On Thu, 25 Apr 2002, Kyle Hutson wrote:
>
> > Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 10:00:07 -0500
> > From: Kyle Hutson <smyle@rockcreek.k12.ks.us>
> > Reply-To: "schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net"
> >     <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
> > To: "schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net"
> >     <schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net>
> > Subject: Re: [school-discuss] How to present Linux to schools
> >
> > > How does one go about proposing moving a school from Windows to
> > Linux?
> >
> > Actually, it all depends on your role. As the technology director
> > for our district, I just switched over our web server and didn't
> > even say a word about it. Then, when I was talking to our
> > superintendent about file and print services (and linux
> > specifically), he asked if I had
> > any experience with linux. When I told him our web server was
> > running linux for over a year, he was impressed.
>
> I'm simply a concerned citizen trying help the local schools. I'm a sys
> admin for a local ISP. The schools call me from time to time to get advice
> or hints on things and everytime I mention a free tool they are in awe
> of the price but go all glassy eyed when I tell them it doesn't run on
> Windows.
>
> >
> > Someone here asked what applications are keeping us from switching
> > desktops. For me the answer is:
> > 1) Accelerated Reader
> > 2) KidPix
> > 3) Lots of 'edutainment' stuff, particularly those from Davidson,
> > Sunburst, Knowledge Adventure (JumpStart), and (like it or not)
> > Microsoft (Magic School Bus).
>
> You might be able to get around that with a Windows 2000 terminal server
> and run rdesktop from Linux workstations. I'm going to try that in my test
> lab.
>
> > 4) Even if all these were addressed, I'm not sure we would still be
> > able to completely switch (particularly at the High School), since
> > we serve as our own "vocational education" service and I have some
> > parents already questioning why we're using Corel instead of
> > Microsoft and naturally "that's what they'll see in 'the real
> > world'".
>
> High School is a problem because the chance that MS will be dethrowned
> before they graduate is slim. It doesn't help that the US Government
> required digital documents to be in Word format. I suppose the question is
> if the school is teaching students how to use a word processor or how to
> use Word.
>
> >
> > The "chicken and the egg" problem definitely exists.
> >
> > --
> > Kyle Hutson /  Director of Technology  / Rock Creek Schools:  USD323
> >
> > smyle@rockcreekschools.org                              785-494-8591
> >
> > Actually I am a laboratory mouse posing as an engineer as part of an
> >
> >                elaborate plot to take over the world
> >
> >
> >
> >Get more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
>

-- 
Randy Smith
Amigo.Net Systems Administrator
1-719-589-6100 x 4185
http://www.amigo.net/