Re: [seul-edu] I am going to look into our schools linux compatability

[Dennis Brown <dennis.brown@sympatico.ca>]

"Joseph E. Arruda [mr.zenn]" wrote:

> Kevin Brown wrote:
> >
> >     The school I go to (Ruthven Public School) is currently M$ and
> > N*vell based. All computers are running Win98 with a N*vell NutWare
> > 4.11. The computers in the class are PII-400Mhz processors that would
> > run Linux quite easily. The ones in the lab are 486s with 8MB of RAM and
> > have NO hard disk (they are diskless workstations). All the rest are
> > high end 486s with 2x CD-ROMs and 16MB of RAM or P90s. I have no clue
> > what the server is because the techie said something about 13 year olds
> > aren't supposed to know more than how to used the assigned programs :-).
>
> >The techie was wrong.  Being in school is about learning and sating a
> >curious need for mental stimulation. I'm actually looking forward to
> >going back to schhol part-time to complete research at the University of
> >California...nad then I'm going for Law School...;)
>

I agree with you here. But I didn't let it get to me. Actualy, grouchie
techies can make great humor :-)......

>
> > The students just use educational games like math rescue (math game) and
> > math team (math racing game) and the teachers use WordPerfect and
> > F!leMak*r Pro to do report cards. The kids at school would love the
> > multiplier games available for linux like FreeCiv. Other GL games would
> > also be good like Tux Racer. There are only two problems that I could
> > find:
>
> >The thing is that there are so many learning related games (i.e.
> >astronomy, math/statistics, languages, chemistry, etc.) that why limit
> >it to just Office and Math tools?

There is more science programs were you can cut open a pig on the computer,
cross country canada where you can even drive a truck around Canada. A lot of
these programs can be replaced with a lot of linux programs.

>
>
> >
> > 1. We would have to re-educate all the techies and teachers
> > 2. It would cost a lot to get rid of the software and site licenses for
> > a free alternative.
>
> >Maybe instead of trying to convert everything you try to deal with it
> >from a backend (i.e Linux with Samba) and a few client boxen as test
> >cases.  It may prove an easier sell...

I guess. Just show everyone how stable and how easy Red Hat and Caldera is to
use. Whether they like it or not is something else...

>
>
> > I will show some teachers about linux and see what they think.
>
> >If you want, I can send some Linux Mags and Journals, as well as some
> >other swag type stuff.
>
> >Just let me know...

I might actualy like that.... :-)

>
>
> z
>
> >
> > Thanx,
> >
> > Kevin Brown.
> >
> > PS: You might see a bunch of *s and !s because I didn't want to get into
> > trouble with trademarks :-).
>
> --
> Joseph E. Arruda                |       www.valinux.com
> Corporate Alchemist             |       sourceforge.net
> VA Linux Systems, Inc.          |       www.linux.com
> z@valinux.com                   |       www.lugod.org
> +1 408.542.5730  "Fugitive from the Law of Averages"