[Gllug] Schools Software

[George]

On Sunday 06 April 2008 09:51:22 John Winters wrote:
> Chris Bell wrote:
> > Hello,
> >    I have often been told that schools use computers supplied under long
> > term comprehensive and very restrictive commercial contracts, that the
> > schools are not alowed to modify the hardware or software themselves,
> > that the curriculum requires Microsoft software, etc, etc.
> >    How much of this is ignorance, FUD, urban myth?
>
> I suspect quite a lot.
>
> I can't speak for schools in general, but the one I teach at has
> computer systems provided by an independent contractor who handles
> several local schools.  Systems are mostly (but not entirely) Microsoft
> based.  We're fairly restricted about what we can do with them, but I
> suspect this has more to do with the lack of technical skill of the
> contractor than any kind of overriding rules.
>
> Computers are replaced on a rolling schedule - in the five years that
> I've been there I think every computer has been replaced.
>
> I'm changing to a new school in September and that one is entirely
> Mac-based.
>
> The ICT curriculum is a bit of a joke, at least at GCSE level.  If you
> sat down with an exam paper you're biggest barrier to getting full marks
> would be not knowing all the little fictions that the curriculum
> teaches.  You'd pass, but you might find it hard to get an A*.  From my
> perusing of papers however, I've seen very little specific to Microsoft
> software.
>
> John

Hi,
 that is certainly true of my 2 daughter's schools, there is a swing going on 
toward Macs.
 The afterschool club has a Linux based firewall & a server but the 
workstations run Windoze by request of the users, simply because of their 
exposure thro out to Windoze.

 Having talked to both the old Principal & the new one I found they are 
covered by what ever the local council has signed up for by way of computer 
support companies.

 I talked to the support company manager, who I met by accident, I got this 
comment why mix the pot & make life difficult, windoze "techs" are a dime a 
dozen a Linux tech (if could be found in our area (west London !) would ask 
for more than the manager's salary 

-- 
Geo
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