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Followup To "When Teachers Are Obstacles To Linux"
An couple of anonymous readers wrote in to let us know about a followup to last Wednesday's story of the teacher who didn't believe in free software. The Linux advocate who posted the original piece has cooled off and graciously apologized for going off half-cocked (even though the teacher had done the same), and provided a little more background which, while not excusing the teacher's ignorance, does make her actions somewhat more understandable. Ken Starks has talked with the teacher, who has received a crash education in technology over the last few days — Starks is installing Linux on her computer tomorrow. He retracts his insinuations about Microsoft money and the NEA. All in all he demonstrates what a little honest communication can do, a lesson that all of us who advocate for free software can take to heart. "The student did get his Linux disks back after the class. The lad was being disruptive, but that wasn't mentioned. Neither was the obvious fact that when she saw a gaggle of giggling 8th grade boys gathered around a laptop, the last thing she expected to see on that screen was a spinning cube. She didn't know what was on those disks he was handing out. It could have been porn, viral .exe's...any number of things for all she knew. When she heard that an adult had given him some of the disks to hand out, her spidey-senses started tingling. Coupled with the fact that she truly was ignorant of honest-to-goodness free software, and you have some fairly impressive conclusion-jumping. In a couple of ways, I am guilty of it too."
I would like to apologize to everyone involved for being so judgmental, even though I never actually commented on the topic or said anything to anyone. I think I jumped to conclusions too (although the "people are stupid" doctrine continues to perform well).
Hey hey hey! What is this? First we get a nice knee-jerk sensationalist story about an M$ drone teacher doing her utmost to keep the kids enslaved to capitalist software, and now you're ruining it all with facts and sensible dialogue between the parties involved? Where would we be if all the major news outlets started following their scaremongering and outright deceitful articles up with corrections and balanced analysis? I mean, what's next, honest reporting without hidden agendas?
why don't some people understand that, especially at the lower grade levels, teachers have to teach to the standards? POSIX _is_ a standard! Now, why are they learning Windows? >_>
So this was less about Linux and more about a teenage boy being, well... a boy. Figures. It would have gone better for him if it had been some ecchi anime. First rule of high school is -- don't point out that the teacher knows less than you do. The second rule of course is, if you break the first rule do so in an epic way.
#fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
do you think I should suggest installing Linux on her computer?
Only after she drops that restraining order against you, dude.
There's this totally hot teacher that I want to bone, do you think I should suggest installing Linux on her computer?
I don't know... she may need some assistance compiling her kernel.
Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
Ken and Karen sittin' in a tree. K. I. S. S. I. N. G. ...
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Using my Jump to Conclusions Mat it has been decided that I lose a turn.. hmmph
"Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
I'd like to see a Windows-free educational system.
What, and do away with the education free educational system we have now?
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
That's not super friendly. It is however, alliteration.
When I was in high school things like cell phones, cameras, pagers, and especially laptops were considered contraband!
Yeah, well, when I was in high school, things like cell phones, digital cameras, pagers, and laptops were considered science fiction. Now get off my yard!
It really depends on what options you turn on.
I'd like to see a Windows-free educational system
Me too!
I never liked those little brats. I say put them in a windowless environment, put them all in one!
True, being able to see outside while sitting in the classroom can be distracting.
But, wouldn't renovation be expensive? Also, they have a higher electricity bill from having to use more lights.
If I have nothing to hide, don't search me
Did you just recommend doing research before arguing on the internet?
Clearly you must be new here. ...
Karen, is that you?
now, where is my torch ? and all of you, get your pitchforks, fast
Read radical news here
Yeah, back when I was in school, I made a pencil drawing of a wico joystick. The teacher saw and thought it was something else...
Moderating "-1, Disagree" is simple censorship. Have the guts to post your opinion.
Here in Portugal (a small country near Spain)
I love how you felt the need to clarify where Portugal is. I don't doubt that plenty of people reading that still said "huh, I wonder where that is?".
(a small country near Spain)
OK, granted there are a lot of Americans on this site, and we sometimes have a reputation of being ignorant of geography and other countries, but I think most people have heard of Portugal. I mean, for goodness sake...the *pope* gave you guys half a continent...
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
...like I need someone to tell me where a South American country is.
Or what modules you insert.
My blog
You've made a huge mistake.
It's always a long day... 86400 doesn't fit into a short.
And there is a hacked version that runs on all platforms called "gimp".
(a small country near Spain)
OK, granted there are a lot of Americans on this site, and we sometimes have a reputation of being ignorant of geography and other countries, but I think most people have heard of Portugal. I mean, for goodness sake...the *pope* gave you guys half a continent...
From now on I will describe myself as being from Australia (a small country near New Zealand).
http://michaelsmith.id.au
"Portugal (a small country near Spain)"
This made me laugh. I would like to think that you would not need to say that, but then I remember that you probably do.
And yeah, the education is pretty bad there. Just look at how poorly people in Portugal speak Spanish, it's almost as bad as Brazil!
Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
Last time I touched a woman's kernel I panicked.
"Pffft. When I was in high school, cell phones were the still size of a small suitcase and laptops were still called 'portables'."
Actually, they were usually referred to as "luggables".
add isn't retarded either some of the smartest pe ooh a kestrel! look out the window!
echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
Well, when I lived in Madrid, my US roommates asked me why TV channels wouldn't bother including this "south-west region of Spain" in weather forecasts.
They swore to god they never heard of Portugal...
I'm just too internet shellshocked to believe anything any more,
That is so politically incorrect, the correct term is 'Blogopathic PTSD'
...500 years ago. But really, you'd be surprised how many people think Portugal is part of Spain.
Yes, but most of them live in Spain...
Look at the thing on a map. There it is tucked into the side of Spain.
Have you ever listed to Portuguese? It sounds so much like Spanish that it may as well be Spanish.
Therefore, Portugal is "part" of Spain! :)
We have always been at war with Eurasia!
That's not super friendly. It is however, alliteration.
Which means, of course, that it is freakily fucking friendly, filling our frail hearts with fear of further forthcoming friendliness, foiling our faltering flight, fading our fanciful fantasy of flat, emotionless interactions.
And we all know school kids simply cannot live without CMYK separation...
Well, it is!
Look at the thing on a map. There it is tucked into the bottom of Iraq.
Have you ever listed to Kuwaiti? It sounds so much like Iraqi that it may as well be Iraqi.
Therefore, Kuwait is "part" of Iraq! :)
Signed, Saddam Hussein (FROM THE GRAVE!)
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
From now on I will describe myself as being from Australia (a small country near New Zealand).
Wouldn't that actually be a "small continent" near New Zealand?
------ The only greater hazard to your liberty than n politicians is n+1 politicians.
That is why I bought a "Jumping To Conclusions Mat(tm)".
where is spain?
Florida is easy to find: it's America's wang.