hi, Manas has certainly raised a pertinent point. But that was not what was intended in the first place. Even though S DasGupta can be a bit more helpful in this part, let me be specific on what i mean by "students in schools" - these are for fellows past 8th std. i suppose the Delhi chapter of the LUG is also on the same wavelength. What Manas has said is sadly so true. Computers [and let's us forget the literacy issue for some moments !] is taught to students as a set of application suites that help solve life crises [at least some of them]. The "drag-drop-routine" is somewhat like the showmanship or patter that a magician does before the actual trick is performed. And it is again true that replacing the MS suites with flavors of Tux is not the answer to the problem. What i was however suggesting that for a student of say std 10, already burdened with an antiquated syllabi [WBBSE] and not having a half decent CompSci class scheduled - what should be taught ? Certainly providing a very deep insight into the world of OS and kernels might be a bit disorienting, at least for some it will be. Linux/Unix offers an alternative in the way that shell scripts, Perl [apologies for bundling this one in !], sed & Awk all combine to offer an insight into the logic that is so much hidden from the user in the MS systems. Basic networking can be explained at a much deeper and simpler level compared to MS networks and/or networked systems. What i feel that needs to be admitted is that the GUI aspect of MS that is the USP manages to draw devotees solely because somehow it has come to be associated with ease of use features [media blitz !!]. *nix offers same and then some more [much more actually] and to sell it we need to patter and cater to the lowest common denominator. Only then can the integrated whole picture of an OS and application suites be propagated. It is a long haul. But i had requested the Delhi LUG to send if possible their approach methodology so that we can toss up a few ideas pertaining to the Kolkata situation. Somehow there has been a lack of response. So till we see some methodology that can work, we should try and think the situation through. Going up to schools and asking them to implement an OS course based on *nix is foolhardy. But selling the GPL/FSF idea to get a toehold and then offering the bouquet is i suppose a better option. *nix offers a better way of building up the fundamentals and progressing thereon. Why not then leave the "drag-drop-pull-wordprocessing_package-accounting_package-BASIC-C...". aside to implement something useful for a change.
thoughts of others on this issue solicited regards and have a nice day sankarshan ps : manas thanks again for being a sounding board. hope to hear from you soon.take care and keep well. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.370 / Virus Database: 205 - Release Date: 06/05/02 -- To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the body "unsubscribe ilug-cal" and an empty subject line. FAQ: http://www.ilug-cal.org/help/faq_list.html
