[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Author Index][Thread Index]

Re: [school-discuss] linux distributions for low resource computers



Dear Ralph,

Looks like that school had the right idea. Impressive -- where most can only wish they could go.

A little preaching to the choir:

As a fellow international school type, I suggest you chalk this change up to the fact that, as you know, international schools are political animals. Things can and will change quickly. Keep the fires burning among those in the school who appreciate learning and the free/open source ethic that matches what these schools _say_ they are about (point out the similarities between the free software ethic and that of the life-long learner). A new board, head, out-spoken parent, interested student will arrive and you'll hear them: Oh, really? I didn't know it could do that/ was about that.

In the meantime, demonstrate by example with those willing to play fair. A good way to go is to argue against monoculture, even mono linux. Mix and match and enable choice -- that's what MS says it wants to allow. Watch. An even playing field will not end up with everyone using MS. There's a place for Macs, where there's enough money. There is a place in each dept and at each level for Linux, too. Sometimes, it will be first place.

/end preaching.

Congratulations on what sounds like very positive involvement. Keep up the good momentum.

Best wishes and happy birthday!

David

 ----- Message from deal@xxxxxxxx ---------
    Date: Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:34:50 +0200
    From: "Ralph M. Deal" <deal@xxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Subject: Re: [school-discuss] linux distributions for low resource computers
      To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
      Cc: Ralph Deal <deal@xxxxxxxx>


I know exactly how you feel, Christian Einfeldt, in finding powerful
LINUX systems being rejected for brand reasons.  I am the husband of an
international school in Germany and a LINUX fan.  When we arrived in
this school, they had a Gentoo server on an old moderately powerful
computer.  The computers in classrooms, staffroom, and computer lab
were dual-boot W2000/Edubuntu donated computers, many Compaq's with 256
RAM and 10-15GB drives.  In this system, the functioning applications
were resident on the user computers, with some drivers and installation
programs resident on the server.  Delighted to find an educational IT
system in place with a LINUX system, I've been an active volunteer
working with our IT person who recently quit.

I just had supper with our new IT guru, a Windows-only enthusiast who
is installing a full M$ system, including the servers.  The main
driving force for this transformation has been the administration and
teachers, many of whom consider LINUX a tinkerer's toy.  Small
difficulties in transforming Word documents written on M$ systems at
home to OO on school computers (either operating systems) have them
crying for M$ software.  Unlike Christian Einfeldt whose students were
rejecting LINUX, our students have not complained about Edubuntu and
most prefer to work there instead of W2000.

In my case, it is too late to undo the damage but I sure would like to
know how to effectively battle with administrators who think that using
LINUX is not really professional.  Please do not suggest that I become
an administrator myself - not appropriate since I just had my 77th
birthday.

Best,  Ralph


----- End message from deal@xxxxxxxx -----



--
ITEACHNET.ORG
http://iteachnet.org * Sustainable Learning Technologies by
International Knowledge Networks, Co., Ltd., Thailand
Linux and Open Source/ Cross-platform Everything:
Training, hosting, design, development, Server admin, network admin.
66(0)84 329 1183 (cell phone); 66(0)2 260 0640 (office); 66(0)2 260 0646 (fax);
E-mail: information@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.