New to the group

[Susan Stewart]

Hello everyone!  I'm a little new to the group, so if this is already 
going on and I missed it let me know...

I was wondering whether or not there's been any attempt to organize a 
group to help introduce GNU/Linux and GNU educational tools to public 
schools.  One might expect under funded public schools to gravitate 
immediately toward free software as more and more becomes available to 
suit their needs.  However, at least in the United States, Windows 
admins are a dime a dozen, but there is a scarcity of people familiar 
with free software willing to work for what schools are able to pay 
(which is below the poverty line in some districts around here -- US 
teachers are among our lowest paid professions).

I would really like to see a push to get schools using free software. 
I'm sure that we are all aware of the devastating effects of high 
software licensing costs on schools. However, unless these schools are 
given the resources to administer GNU/Linux based systems, proprietary 
software will remain their only option.  Making free software a viable 
option for public schools would involve finding volunteers from local 
LUGs, universities, businesses, etc. to help with initial setup and with 
training school staff to use and maintain the systems.  Unless teachers 
know how to use it, and staff is able to maintain the system, all of our 
development efforts will amount to naught.

In conjunction with this effort, I would like to establish resources for 
schools interested in beginning computer related extracurricular 
programs.  We could provide schools with a framework from which to build 
programs that will enrich students not only with added opportunities to 
acquire computer skills, but with the guiding ideals of free software: 
freedom and cooperation.

I have put a lot of thought into how these goals could be accomplished, 
and would be more than happy to make a more complete project proposal if 
anyone is interested.

Sincerely,

Susan Stewart



_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com