[K12OSN] Microsoft's insidious domination in Australian school
Doug Simpson
simpsond at leopards.k12.ar.us
Thu May 4 15:07:30 UTC 2006
I have considered this, too, but infrastructure would have to be purchased
and they'd figure out what I was up to. . .
Doug Simpson
Technology Specialist
DeQueen Public Schools
DeQueen, AR 71832
simpsond at leopards.k12.ar.us
Tux for President!
On Thu, 4 May 2006, Access Systems wrote:
> On Thu, 4 May 2006, Doug Simpson wrote:
>
> > You are not alone!
> >
> > We have lots of computers laying around that could be used for this, and I
> > already have the servers configured for it, but they (administration at
> > our local school) won't allow it to be utilized.
>
> yeah I have a similar problem with a small BROKE parochial high school in
> Baltimore.
>
> one thing I have considered is an "after school computer club" that
> uses the "old" computers and just quietly let em run during the school day
> for "club" members to use in their free time..??
>
> Bob
>
>
> >
> > "Throw money at it, it'll work!" seems to be the philosophy.
> >
> > M$ costs a *lot* of money unless you illegally pirate it (we don't here)
> > but even with the newer versions, pirating is getting harder (GOOD! If you
> > are going to succomb to the master, PAY HIM his due!).
> >
> > I am a strong advocate for K12LTSP in schools, especially with money
> > getting tighter all the time.
> >
> > Doug Simpson
> > Technology Specialist
> > DeQueen Public Schools
> > DeQueen, AR 71832
> > simpsond at leopards.k12.ar.us
> > Tux for President!
> >
> > On Thu, 4 May 2006, Gavin Chester wrote:
> >
> > > (This email is written with many concepts explained that may already be
> > > familiar to you because I am sending this as an open letter to readers from
> > > a wide range of backgrounds and interest groups).
> > >
> > > I write with heavy heart and a good dose of old-fashioned rage at the
> > > injustice meted out to the next generation. Okay, that's maybe a bit over
> > > the top, but I encountered a ludicrous situation that came to a head today
> > > at my local government primary school of around 75 students (K-7), located
> > > in a rural area of Western Australia. It's under-funded and
> > > under-resourced, as you would imagine.
> > >
> > > Through contacts I have in the local Linux user group (PLUG), I had tapped
> > > into a supply of up to 15 PII PCs about to be cast-off by a large company.
> > > They were more than happy to donate the lot, plus spares, and deliver them
> > > more than 100km to our school. These PCs are useless for running any recent
> > > version of Microsoft, but they are great for running Linux. I presented a
> > > proposal to our school Principal of the concept of making use of these
> > > computers in a teaching lab, utilising one or two of their high-end desktops
> > > as a server. The latter part of the concept was a short-term solution and I
> > > aimed to beg, borrow or steal a purpose-built server once I got the lab up
> > > and running, and proven. I also was going to donate my time to setup the
> > > system and administer it and asked nothing of the school staff in this
> > > regard.
> > >
> > > Underpinning the concept was that it was to be a K12LTSP lab, since I have
> > > been following the project for about three years and run a small setup at
> > > home for my kids. For those who don't know, K12LTSP is an offshoot of the
> > > LTS Project that allows low-end PCs to be used as thin (i.e., no hard drive)
> > > clients running off a central Linux server. Another, similar Linux project
> > > is 'Edubuntu', which is based on Ubuntu Linux, itself based on Debian Linux.
> > > Those of you in the know will realise that there are other projects out
> > > there that do similar things and also are tailored for an educational
> > > setting, but K12LTSP is the one with which I am most familiar. The beauty
> > > of any of these projects is that all the software is very worthy and it is
> > > FREE and you get to recycle old PCs, which not only saves them from
> > > polluting at landfill but also means that the hardware is usually FREE.
> > > Moreover, you can run a large PC lab (30 or more PCs, or clients) with only
> > > one server to administer instead of lots of separate PCs with their own
> > > operating system. See these links for more information if you're not
> > > already familiar with these software projects:
> > > http://k12ltsp.org/contents.html
> > > http://www.ltsp.org/
> > > http://www.edubuntu.org/
> > >
> > > Despite being cash-strapped, the school did have some cash to spare for
> > > incidentals so I was going to be able to buy some missing bits, like basic
> > > networking gear. I was even prepared that the lab be isolated from the rest
> > > of their system with no access to their existing server and internet link
> > > (the reason for this will be soon be apparent). Well, today I was told that
> > > thanks, but no thanks. Apparently, higher powers in head office dictate
> > > that every computer located in any government school across the whole State
> > > MUST run Microsoft - even if the hardware on which it runs is donated.
> > > Also, every computer in the school must be powerful enough to run XP. It
> > > simplifies administration and help-desk support, you see. That's despite
> > > the fact that no one from head office ever comes near the school's PCs, and
> > > despite the fact that the school can't afford to have more than about one
> > > working PC for every six students in the school because of the hardware
> > > requirements of XP. I should point out that the ratio is an estimate, since
> > > I've only anecdotal evidence of how many PCs are used regularly in the
> > > school. If I've erred, I believe I've been generous regarding the ratio of
> > > students per PC.
> > >
> > > As you would imagine, I was aghast at being told this today. I
> > > incredulously stated to the Principal and the school administrator that "it
> > > is our responsibility to teach our children computing, not Microsoft". But
> > > my pleas fell on deaf ears because they are bound by head office policy,
> > > apparently. I don't write this open letter to serve as a means to 'vent my
> > > spleen' and rant like some Linux zealot at a ridiculous situation. Instead,
> > > I ask that recipients consider the implications of it and then act. If you
> > > are able to contact someone who may have some influence, or know someone who
> > > knows someone else who may have influence, I want to see if we might effect
> > > a change in education policy to stop this happening in West Australian
> > > government schools. Just where are our tax dollars being spent in
> > > education? Into the pockets of Microsoft and Intel, I think.
> > >
> > > I see the use of free software and recycled hardware as another opportunity
> > > to better our next generation, yet it is being shot down by FUD (fear,
> > > uncertainty and doubt) emanating from the halls of (educational) power. The
> > > teachers here at the 'coal face' don't seem to mind too much because "we
> > > don't have to pay any licensing fees out of our budget - head office pays".
> > > I was dumbfounded that such an attitude can exist. Contact me if you have
> > > any ideas or similar sad stories to relate.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Gavin Chester
> > >
> > > 962 Williams Rd (PO Box 62), Dwellingup, Western Australia. 6213.
> > > Tel: (08) 9538 1102
> > > E-mail#1: mailto:sales at ecosolutions.com.au
> > > E-mail#2: mailto:gc at gwchester.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> >
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