Re: [school-discuss] Throwing Themselves Into Technology

[Richard Andrews <bbmaj7@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Umm... sorry if you took my post as criticism of your writings. It was not intended in that fashion - I wasn't directing to any one person, but to the group. I wanted to make the point that since FOSS is advertised by word of mouth what we need is people who are listened to in the school systems having good things to say about FOSS. And one good way to do that is show them how a community-driven effort can come in and save a failing ICT project; and make it known that all schools can tap that community if they will but ask.

IMO it is important that FOSS communities do not stoop to the low tricks of commercial software vendors. Firstly it's (for me) morally wrong. Secondly it will create an unsustainable arms race which the FOSS community could never compete in. No, I think that our best selling point is ourselves; people out on the coalface doing the hard work and choosing FOSS because it is a good way to operate.


----- Original Message ----
From: Daniel Howard <dhhoward@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, 18 February, 2008 9:09:54 AM
Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Throwing Themselves Into Technology

Rich, 
I 
have 
tried 
with 
all 
my 
heart 
to 
be 
a 
good 
word 
of 
mouth 
for 
FOSS 
for 
schools, 
if 
you've 
seen 
any 
of 
my 
writings 
that 
you 
think 
are 
not 
the 
best 
message 
to 
send, 
please 
let 
me 
know.  
I've 
made 
evangelization 
of 
FOSS 
for 
schools 
my 
top 
avocation 
(believe 
it 
or 
not, 
I 
do 
have 
a 
day 
job 
in 
the 
broadband 
telecom 
industry), 
but 
I 
will 
always 
listen 
to 
ideas 
for 
better 
ways 
of 
convincing 
schools, 
especially 
given 
the 
battles 
I've 
had 
to 
fight 
in 
that 
regard.

I'd 
also 
love 
for 
this 
group 
to 
explore 
the 
idea 
of 
how 
we 
can 
more 
determinately 
promote 
FOSS 
for 
schools.  
Our 
competition 
uses 
advertising, 
wining 
and 
dining, 
FUD, 
and 
incentives 
to 
achieve 
their 
goals; 
what 
can 
we 
do 
in 
defense 
besides 
FUD?  
Could 
we 
stimulate 
a 
YouTube 
video 
of 
FOSS 
and 
email 
the 
links 
to 
educators 
(as 
opposed 
to 
advertising 
in 
the 
regular 
media)?  
Could 
we 
blanket 
public 
radio 
with 
requests 
for 
interviews 
with 
key 
FOSS 
proponents?  
Ideas, 
please!






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