Re: Linux in high schools.

["Ralph M. Deal" <deal@xxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 3 Jun 2001 bob@acm.org wrote:

> 
> >>I know that the Olivet Community Schools are about to drop LINUX which
> >>they been using for a mail/webserver because none of their staff knew
> >>LINUX and .....
> >Sounds like a training/PR opportunity for KLUG.
> 
> Exactly the point, folks! If we simply wait until conditions are right, things 
> may never happen favorably. We can supply that needed bit of talent, teaching 
> and support that will promote Linux in these situations.
> 
> This is something that we must choose to do as a group. We can be a group that 
> has some "safe" activities, sits around and TALKS about Linux being useful, or
> maybe proving that to ourselves and in our work or home environments. Can we 
> put ourselves where our words are? We SAY we want Linux to suceed in schools, 
> but can we walk the walk?
> 
> At Boogies cybercafe, we've done so. We've shown that Linux is a viable system
> for publicly available workstations, and we've established a good relationship 
> there, as well as some cashflow for our group. We've had some difficulties, 
> but we are also making progress on all of them, and showing that this system
> provides value the the software it replace could not. That's walking the walk,
> putting what we beleive out there as a working system.

Insprirational, Bob!  However, the Boogies situation and this particular (
and I suspect most) public school systems are not being offered a complete
pacakge: free software, installation, AND maintainence in a system 
where security is not a premium.  There is a
certain paranoia I've encountered in public schools as a volunteer.  If
you are not on the payroll, you are suspect, as demonstrated by my not
being given root priveleges on the servers.

I'd be delighted if KLUG wants to take this and other schools' systems on
as a project but I expect you would find the paranoia, resistance to
change, and petty turf protection to be significant impediments.

Please let me know if KLUG decides to try this.  I'd like to help as I
can.

	Best,  Ralph deal@kzoo.edu