[olug] Teachers are the obstacle between the classroom and Linux.

[Dave Thacker]

On Wednesday 10 December 2008 14:01:53 Jay Swackhamer wrote:
> I thought teachers were supposed to be smart people?

I'm going to ignore the whole teachers smart or dumb thread.   In general, 
I've found them to be pretty cool people.   I'll just point out that the 
students at Omaha North Magnet Center (Technology Magnet) were aware of the 
Live CD story and thought it was a pretty silly move on the Austin teacher's 
part.   The phrase "routing around damage" comes to mind.   

Dave Thacker 
>
> ----------------
>
> http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2008/12/linux-stop-holding-our-kids-back.html
> ......
> It seems a teacher came upon a student demonstrating Linux to other
> kids and handing out LiveCDs. The teacher confiscated the CDs and
> wrote an angry email to HeliOS's founder, Ken Starks:
> "...observed one of my students with a group of other children
> gathered around his laptop. Upon looking at his computer, I saw he was
> giving a demonstration of some sort. The student was showing the
> ability of the laptop and handing out Linux disks. After confiscating
> the disks I called a confrence with the student and that is how I came
> to discover you and your organization. Mr. Starks, I am sure you
> strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support
> your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I
> am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and
> spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to
> adults for guidance and discipline. I will research this as time
> allows and I want to assure you, if you are doing anything illegal, I
> will pursue charges as the law allows. Mr. Starks, I along with many
> others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you
> make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods. I admire your
> attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but
> putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.