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When Teachers Are Obstacles To Linux In Education
jamie found this blog post up on the HeliOS Project, which brings Linux to school kids in Austin, TX. It makes very clear some of the obstacles that free software faces in the classroom. 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: "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. ... This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all. I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older version of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service to those receiving them..." Starks pens an eloquent reply, which contains a factoid I have not seen mentioned before: "The fact that you seem to believe that Microsoft is the end all and be-all is actually funny in a sad sort of way. Then again, being a good NEA member, you would spout the Union line. Microsoft has pumped tens of millions of dollars into your union. Of course you are going to 'recommend' Microsoft Windows."
That the teacher is ignorant is amply demonstrated by her own words.
"I called a confrence with the student..." Apart from the typo, teachers do not have "conferences" with students. They simply talk with them.
"...the claims you make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods". I am pretty sure she meant "verge on falsehoods", but couldn't quite find the right word.
"I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people..." Again, not very good English.
None of these are "hanging offences", but as a professional editor I recognize the symptoms of a rather weak grasp of English. Such a person should not be teaching others.
I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
So which Karen is it? Greathouse or Ciesla?
I want to play Free Market with a drowning Libertarian.
It's often the case with computing teachers. If they were any good, they would be earning 2-3 times as much working in industry. Sometimes you get some really good ones, typically people who have done will commercially and are taking a job as a teacher to give something back to the community. A lot of the rest only have slightly more knowledge of computers than the average and are terrified of someone discovering the depth of their ignorance.
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He omits his conclusion, because it is trivially disprovable. It's a common tactic among the right-wingers.
What's wrong with being elitist?
If I have to tell you, you're too stupid to EVER understand.
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