Re: [Sheflug] Re: Linux in Schools (was: Partitioning)

[Steve Tickle <xxxxx [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:36 25/10/01 +0000, Richard Ibbotson wrote:
>Steve
>
> > Maybe Linux might be an option for the "invisible" tasks such as
> > network and file servers etc. The teaching staff would be pretty
> > alarmed to see anything other than Windoze when they turn their
> > PC's on.
>
>Originally it was used that way - e.g Red Hat 4.2 upwards - but in
>the past year or so more than a few schools have switched to desktop
>use to save money.  The teachers involved in those projects say that
>the both the kids and themselves don't notice that there aren't any
>MS products around. They say that most tasks can be done without MS
>stuff.  They also say that they only need an MS product when it comes
>to GCSE exams.  So, the general argument seems to be that high
>quality IT education can be delivered with the use of desktop Linux.

I'm convinced, I just think that the teaching staff will think that they'll 
need a lot of hand holding (which may well not be the case)


>I find in Sheffield that we do have internal ICT technicians within
>the schools who look at you in a funny way if you offer to build them
>a PC at a sensible price.  They'd rather do it themselves. There are
>also other schools who just buy in PCs but they seem to go to a
>certain supplier and that's the end of it.

I'm not in Sheffield though, I'm talking about that beautiful hilly area a 
little further south and beginning with "D" ;-) We're able to go out to 
tender for PC's and we could probably choose a supplier with Linux 
knowledge. My guess though is that what you save on the software costs 
you'd probably pay out because you're paying for the support the PC builder 
can offer.

As I say, if I were able to support the schools myself, I'd be only too 
happy to and would push Linux in their direction. If the LEAs were more 
informed and supportive of Linux it would be a whole lot easier task.

Steve

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