[Bradford] E-Petition - non-microsoft schools

[Andy Coulson]

I am a trainee Primary Teacher and have previously worked with
Audio-visual Installations in Education.  I am reasonably familiar
with BECTA and as far as I am Aware they do not recommend Microsoft as
the Only solution in Schools.  However, they have clearly been well
and truly infected by the Microsoft marketing virus... There are
references to Mac and Linux and Open Source software on The BECTA
Site, but it's well buried.  I would not wholly agree with the wording
of this, but certainly with the intention.

I think the biggest barrier to acceptance is the lack of technical
support for ICT in schools, and that that support is predominantly
Microsoft knowledgeable.  In order to change the education market,
there is a depressingly large hearts and minds operation to do both in
schools and at LEA level.  There are great examples of local activism,
such as  a recent Linux User article where someone cannibalised
obsolescent PCs (From an MS point of View) and built a fantastic Music
studio using Linux Studio32 for negligable cost.  We need more of this
sort of activism to change minds.  The only organisation involved in
open Source in Schools is Schoolforge which seems depressingly quiet.
One good sign, although not Open Source, is that Smart make their
software available on MS, Mac and Linux simultaneously.

Is there anyone else in the group who is involved in Education and is
interested in this?

Andy Coulson