RE: Linux in high schools.

[Adam Williams <awilliam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>As of this week, KLUG will have at least three actively attending members from 
>Portage Central High School, all of which will be seniors next fall.
>The computer environment in the Portage Public Schools is very, very 
>Microsoft-centric, and I don't know if there is any interest in the technology 
>department as far as adding another OS (which no employees are familiar with) 
>to the list of things they need to support.

I suspect that this will be the death of this project.  In my
interactions with schools systems I have found them to be so totally
apathetic/ignorant/bungling concerning technology issues that I highly
doubt we will find anyone to attend even FREE training.  But I will
happily stand corrected...

>Portage Central (I don't know much about Northern), though, is beginning to 
>add more and more computer-oriented classes.  And, speaking without any real 
>authority or influence, putting Linux on some computers in the labs and 
>offering a class involving said OS would be very beneficial for the students.  
>But, I don't know if its even remotely possible.  The courses currently being 
>offered are far from advanced - "Computer Programming" is Visual Basic only.  
>But VB is a whole other rant.

I don't know if KLUG is up to the task of teaching a "class" on Linux
during typical school hours,  if that is what you are suggesting.  And
the beauracratic/artificial barriers to anyone who has a "real" job
teaching in the public school system are immense.  To do that I think we
would need to find a teacher with a real itch to do some real teaching.
Lots of those exist,  but you've got to find one in the right place/time
and who knows how to effectively brow-beat the administration.  Just
throwing some Linux machines in a lab,  with no related instruction,  I
don't think would accomplish much.

>It probably wouldn't be very effective if I suggested this addition to Portage 
>administrators, especially considering my recent and unpleasant confrontation 
>with them in the computer arena.  But some sort of outreach to the Portage 
>school district would be very cool.

What we need to do:

First is find out how many people on this list, of with a KLUG
affiliation, are *seriously* interesting in promoting Linux at schools.
Assuming that number possesses critical mass...

Second,  decide what we are willing/not-willing to do.

Third, write that down and send it to the officers so they can say "Yes,
this will be an official KLUG project."  Remember that KLUG is a legal
entity and these things have to be voted on.

Fourth,  let volunteers and the publicity and publication directors send
smoke signals.

Fifth,  wait to see if anything resembling a sentient life form
responds.
 
>As far as outreach into the educational system, there are a lot of 
>possibilities for Linux.  

That remains to be seen.  That we are eager to avail ourselves of such
opportunities doesn't imply their existence.  Put me in the "Doubting
Thomas" pile,  but show me a wound and I'm there.

>As I mentioned above, installing Linux on lab 
>computers for teaching purposes is one.  Another is using it for servers (for 
>example, the NT box hosting portageps.org).  The problem is that most 

Mmm, is there a possibilty for Linux as a server in the PS?  Last person
I asked said the Grand Rapids PS was moving to Windows 2000,  and don't
both mentioning any of that other crap.  Not a quote,  but a pretty
close paraphrase.

>educational IT employees are Microsoft-dependent.  

Restraining comment.....

>And, without meaning 
>anything insulting to any teachers out there, the general rule is that 
>teachers are completely and utterly lost with technology; simplicity is of 
>highest importance.  

Oh yes,  I'm aware of that.  Something about the blind leading the
blind....  But I'll restrain further comment....

>But, schools are always complaining about money 
>situations, and getting rid of huge licensing costs could definitely help 
>financially.

Hog wash.  They waste truck-loads of money without batting an eye.  This
is not even a consideration in there minds.  Us mere mortals (me at
least) is incapable of even beginning to understand their approach to
finances.  Don't bother beating the license cost bush at schools,
corporations, or anywhere else.  It won't "buy" you an inch (Pun
intended :)

>I'm gung-ho excited about the whole concept of Linux in High Schools, and 

Me too,  although it may not seem like it.

>anything that I can do to help... just let me know.  Since I also attend the 
>Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC), I have computer-literate 
>friends in just about every area high school.

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