[K12OSN] Linux cut off

[Jim Kronebusch]

Terrell,
   This is one of the best set of analogies and yet the simplest single
argument I have seen yet to exercise the point of OSS.  If you don't
mind I would like your permission to print this and keep to present to
the narrow-minded individuals I run into in the future.  

   I have been quietly attempting to gather data to help prove this
point in the schools I support.  Everyone always tells me they need
certain software to teach.  Instead this year I am asking all of the
teachers to put together an outline of the goals they hope to achieve
when teaching students technology.  I have instructed them to not give
me stuff like to learn Word, or Accelerated Reader.  But to give me
stuff like to learn to type, to learn to use a word processor, and to
also break down the range of skills they hope to teach in those
categories such as how to bold, underline, create tables, etc.  Once
they give me that list not knowing the real reason why, I will find
software that helps them teach all of their stated goals and use their
own documentation to prove my point.  At least that is my plan :-)

Thanks,

> You're right to duck like that.  The reason is that we are 
> educators of 
> *concepts* in K12 schools.  Having come from corporate 
> myself, I don't 
> see any justification for turning fourth-graders into "Good Little 
> Employees" ready to be trained monkeys on specific applications.  
> Children don't learn how to write on just Avery-brand paper.  
> They learn 
> how to write.  Period.  Same with math--we don't teach them 
> how to add, 
> subtract, multiply, and divide only on HP calculators.  
> Rather, we teach 
> them how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, period.  Same with 
> cars.  The auto shop in every high school I've ever seen that has one 
> teaches the kids how to work on cars, not just Fords, not 
> just Chevys, 
> not just Toyotas, etc.  They teach *automobiles*.
> 
> What we should be focusing on is the *concept* of word 
> processing.  Same 
> with using a spreadsheet--any spreadsheet, or any presentation 
> software.  I don't want kids only being able to use Microsoft 
> products; 
> they're no good to me in my shop, and I won't--and can't--hire them.  
> Several educators have found that, when children are exposed 
> to multiple 
> implementations of the same concept, they get that concept a 
> whole lot 
> better.  I have found that to be true of myself even to this day.
> 
> Schools do not have the same goals as corporations.  
> Corporations care 
> strictly and only about the bottom line for shareholders.  
> The mission 
> of schools, by contrast, is to get a young mind to develop 
> and open up 
> to new ideas.  K12 schools are not Voc-Tech institutes like ITT.  
> They're centers of general mental development, teaching 
> children of all 
> ages how to learn.  Am I opposed to children learning about Microsoft 
> Windows and Office?  Not really.  Am I opposed to children learning 
> about *ONLY* Microsoft Windows and Office?  Yes!
> 
> If you think I'm wrong here, then, one corporate person to 
> another, I'd 
> like to know your thoughts.
> 
> --TP

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