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I disagree. And I agree.
While you are correct in your essential analysis
that the direction of Open Source and the direction of Linux (as a trademark)
are two different directions, there is no need to make them mutually
exclusive. It is true what you say for example about "the kitchen sink"
versus simplicity. But the advantage of the kitchen sink is that it is at
this point an easier setup/install to replicate the expected equivalent
functionality of Windoze desktops. Emphasis on the word "expected" because
that refers to the expectations of the educator who would be won over to Open
Source in general. And need I actually have to say that Windoze
(functionality) is the expectation!
Now having said this, I agree completely that where
the focus should be for Open Source in education is where you are
advocating. Word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database
carry us only so far. Developing education-specific software driven by
educators is clearly an enterprise whose time has long since arrived.
I applaud your effort. The kitchen sink can then be phased
out.
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 1:15
PM
Subject: [school-discuss] Talking Linux
in School is a Serious Blunder!
I think that it is a major blunder to view any rational thrust
into the schools adaptation of Open Source as a Linux initiative.
Especially when schools, who are goal and objective driven, must sift through
thousands of duplicatory packages, many of dubious quality, that
comprise what I call the "kitchen sink" distros such as Redhat, Suse, Mandrake
and Debian. We must, instead look at open source as a collection of
tools to bbe selected from the perspective of the teachers and admins.
We must produce an Educational System which is based on a minimalist, goal
driven philosophy. FreeBSD would work equally well in schools, and it
has a more rational license. I am collecting papers for an edited books
on Transforming Schools Through Goal Driven Open Source Software. Any
educator, or professional who can produce any contribution to this title would
be welcome to submit. Thanks you.
--
Michael Dean, CEO
SourceView
Corporation
716 Alhambra Ave.
Martinez, CA 94553
925-286-5556
mdean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
SourceView enables
customized, secure, web-based, user application computer servers and
workstations for schools, nonprofits and small
businesses. Our philosophy, vision, goals and objectives require
a goal-driven, minimalist Open Source (MIT/BSD licensed) distribution that
contains the full OSI stack of applications. SourceView provides
the initial customized reference distribution free-of-charge! Winin 30 miles
of its Martinez office, SourceView will also donate up to 30 workstations and one
server running its software to nonprofit schools at the K-8 level.
SourceView also enables a structured,
cryptographically based infrastructure for installation, weekly maintenance
and upgrades that removes all posibility of successful security exploits, spam
and other malicious software exploits and guarantees that each server is up to
date.
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