[HLUG] OSS in schools

[Matt Rhys-Roberts]

Hello Phil,

I've been pestering the Welsh Assembly with a number of issues recently; 
don't be put off by the initial automated response, which is usually 
followed shortly by a proper reply. Although the WA is fairly young and 
a bit powerless, it is gradually gaining strength and credibility, and 
urgently needs the high quality input of well considered opinions to 
inform it.

Funny how Extremadura sounds a lot like Wales, esp. the climate and the 
export of its water resources!

I would say that it's VITAL that schools & colleges are made fully aware 
of the existence and potential of OSS, to eradicate the sad M$-only 
lock-down that has been the norm in some places. I'm not sure how to 
address the lack of OSS-aware teachers or tutors; is there scope for UK 
LUG folk to inform educators?

I think there needs to be created a vendor-neutral syllabus of essential 
I.T. skills, incl. comms & multimedia aspects, to address the IT 
educational shortcomings mentioned. Then pick an appropriate operating 
system, e.g. Edubuntu (I don't really know) and make sure staff know it 
well enough to demonstrate it in the classrooms. Last & not least, I 
feel students would benefit from understanding the great social & 
scientific potential of the spirit of open source and free software, by 
being encouraged to participate in it.

I'd love to see an educational Linux distro for Wales. I anticipate some 
need for it to be bilingual, perhaps: a number of English speaking 
children are sent to Welsh schools in order that they may learn Welsh; 
it would be great to factor in some method of promoting the Welsh 
language in an English-inclusive way.

Just my 2p worth!

Matt Rhys-Roberts
(Home: Ruabon; Work: Leominster)


Mark Broadbent wrote:
> From: Phil Thane
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm a member of the North Wales LUG with an appeal to users right 
> across the
> UK.
[snip]