[Westwales] Linux in schools

[Simon Burns]

On Tue, 18 Feb 2003, Rob wrote:

> I also believe that the school should be educating kids in IT, not training
> them to use a foreign product.

I don't necessarily mind where the product comes from, but I agree with
your point. Microsoft are already losing dominance with some high-profile
Linux implementations (eg West Yorkshire Police going Linux on their
desktop systems :-) So what happens if someone educated (on Microsoft
products) in a Carmarthenshire school wants to work in tech support there?

> I would love to use Linux more, but my problem is trying to keep about 250
> PCs going, along with everything from laying CAT5 to changing cartridges to
> designing the web site to fixing the Admin system 'cos teachers forget their
> training...   ...well, you get the picture...
...
> I think all of us are interested if anyone has ideas.  I would like to set
> up an after school club to encourage the kids, but I'd need a room of PC's
> and I'm not confident/competent enough to set them up suitably so the kid's
> couldn't scramble them and I'd need to convince the Headmaster of the
> benefits of a non-MS suite too.

I'd be happy to help, time permitting. There are probably ways to make
your life easier too, such as using a content-management system on the
website. For setting up a room of Linux PCs -- the default installation
for most ditros is secure enough for this purpose, and I'll return again
to my old favourite -- Knoppix, where you don't even need to install
Linux, you just boot straight from the CD.

> Would anyone be interested in a LUG meet in Carmarthen some time?

Yes, particularly near Newcastle Emlyn but I can travel ;-) I find Aber is
a bit too far for the regular LUG meetings. Given my current
living-in-England part-time work arrangements, the meeting would need to
be on Friday or the weekend for me to get there.

--
Simon Burns