Trawling through my usual read of the technology pages I came across this
article on the BBC Technology page, entitled "Schools warned off Microsoft
deal".
You can read the details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7063716.stm
and I would also recommend that you read more about the history of the issue
here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4558171.stm
Now it seems to me, that with more and more overseas educational establishments
going the open source route to great effect, that we should concentrate our
efforts a
little more closer to home. Ubuntu and and more pertinently its derivative
Edubuntu,
have now evolved to a stage where it is a more than viable alternative to the
M$ option. More over, if linux open source is to continue to grow in the
mainstream user groups, the we have to start cultivating the next generation
of users, programmers and enthusiasts now.
How many of us have children ( I have 12, 7 still at home) that use computers
daily for various things from instant messaging to homework (in that order!)
Its time that the snazzy looking desktop that Daddy (or Mom) is using gets
promoted more amoungst our kids and their mates. After all its free and fast
and looks good.
The more that our kids go to school with Ubuntu (or Edubuntu) on their lips and
open source as opposed to the usual, on their minds; will only help to convince
the powers that be in education that perhaps, it would make more educational
and economic sense to switch to open source for their educational ICT needs.
The support network is already in place and I am sure would cost much less than
the constant licensing fees payable to you know who.
The is also a much more important aspect to kids using open source in schools
and it is this. Ubuntu and most of the other desktop aspiring distros are still
works in progress though Ubuntu, of them all is getting mighty close to what
the user wants to see working "out of the box" Those young, intellingent (for
the most part) and inquiring minds could only benefit from using an OS where
sometimes a little thinking, reading and exploration is needed, as opposed to
using one that is presented to them as a fait accompli (though in the case of
hasta la vista even this is not true!). Also, given the innovative nature of
children, there could be a lot to be gained from the insight of those who have
not had the long history of using the "provided system" warts and all and have
not developed the cynicism that a lot of us older heads have. So why not show
off our spinning, working, super fast desktops to our kids more, give a few
live cd's to our kids to give to their mates (or
teachers), install edubuntu on our computers at home and show them how all of
the wonderful stuff in there comes as standard and is free, to use, change
(hopefully for the better) as they please.
Out of the mouths of babes....................
What say you brethren.......................
n3m3sis
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