Here's the copy of my letter to suggest@redhat.com that I mentioned in this thread back 10-12 days ago. This was sent with the subject, "A distro for the K12 market." Doug Loss wrote: > > I've become aware of the dearth of educational software for Linux. I > have a 6-year-old son, and I am informally advising my local school > district in networking matters. For my son, I'm running Executor and > some Macintosh programs. This is better than nothing, but isn't really > what I'd like to see. I'm trying to figure out a way to get a > comprehensive push toward opening Linux up to educational software. > > To that end I've approached ARDI (makers of Executor) about using their > name in a pitch to the makers of educational software about the relative > ease in porting their programs to Linux. I've also started talking with > a tcl/tk programmer about modifying Stewart Allen's Visual Tcl to make > it more familiar to Macintosh HyperCard authors (Stewart agreed to open > his source repository to us on condition that we fold whatever we come > up with back into the code base, which was always our intent). I've > thought about approaching the Linux game design community about working > on educational software, but I didn't want to dilute their efforts. > After all, good games will be just as great an impetus to get Linux into > homes and schools as good educational programs. > > Here's where my suggestion to you comes in. Please consider a > distribution aimed primarily at the K12 educational market. Most school > districts are perpetually strapped for funds, and could use reliable, > inexpensive, easily networked and maintained systems. Such a distro > might include gradebook applications (simple flatfile stuff), facilities > scheduling and management applications, and something like a PIM for > parent/teacher conference and guidance councelor-type use. I'm sure a > professional educator could come up with a few other desireable apps. > > Most important would be cutting a distribution deal (if possible) with > MetaCard similar to your deals with BRU and Metro Link. MetaCard is > supposed to work very similarly to HyperCard, and to be able to import > existing HyperCard stacks. Its inclusion would enhance a Linux distro's > quick usability in the K12 market quite a bit. > > That's pretty much what I have to say. I hope you'll take it under > advisement and consider doing such a distro. After all, if the kids are > exposed to Linux at school they'll have much tolerance for MS at home. > > -- > Doug Loss My sources are unreliable, but > Data Network Coordinator their information is fascinating. > Bloomsburg University Ashleigh Brilliant > dloss@bloomu.edu -- Doug Loss My sources are unreliable, but Data Network Coordinator their information is fascinating. Bloomsburg University Ashleigh Brilliant dloss@bloomu.edu
-- BEGIN included message
- To: suggest@redhat.com
- Subject: A distro for the K12 market
- From: Doug Loss <dloss@csrlink.net>
- Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 13:02:05 -0400
I've become aware of the dearth of educational software for Linux. I have a 6-year-old son, and I am informally advising my local school district in networking matters. For my son, I'm running Executor and some Macintosh programs. This is better than nothing, but isn't really what I'd like to see. I'm trying to figure out a way to get a comprehensive push toward opening Linux up to educational software. To that end I've approached ARDI (makers of Executor) about using their name in a pitch to the makers of educational software about the relative ease in porting their programs to Linux. I've also started talking with a tcl/tk programmer about modifying Stewart Allen's Visual Tcl to make it more familiar to Macintosh HyperCard authors (Stewart agreed to open his source repository to us on condition that we fold whatever we come up with back into the code base, which was always our intent). I've thought about approaching the Linux game design community about working on educational software, but I didn't want to dilute their efforts. After all, good games will be just as great an impetus to get Linux into homes and schools as good educational programs. Here's where my suggestion to you comes in. Please consider a distribution aimed primarily at the K12 educational market. Most school districts are perpetually strapped for funds, and could use reliable, inexpensive, easily networked and maintained systems. Such a distro might include gradebook applications (simple flatfile stuff), facilities scheduling and management applications, and something like a PIM for parent/teacher conference and guidance councelor-type use. I'm sure a professional educator could come up with a few other desireable apps. Most important would be cutting a distribution deal (if possible) with MetaCard similar to your deals with BRU and Metro Link. MetaCard is supposed to work very similarly to HyperCard, and to be able to import existing HyperCard stacks. Its inclusion would enhance a Linux distro's quick usability in the K12 market quite a bit. That's pretty much what I have to say. I hope you'll take it under advisement and consider doing such a distro. After all, if the kids are exposed to Linux at school they'll have much tolerance for MS at home. -- Doug Loss My sources are unreliable, but Data Network Coordinator their information is fascinating. Bloomsburg University Ashleigh Brilliant dloss@bloomu.edu
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