[edu-eu] Re: [edu-team] education activity flyer / arguments + information

[Bjoern Schiessle]

Hello Thomas,

Thomas Jensch <address@hidden> writes:
> Beside the general facts of why Free Software is better: Are there any
> education specific arguments?

One argument I see is that schools should not only teach technical
skills but also social skills. In traditional areas this can mean
something like "be nice to each other", playing together, work together
in teams, help each other, waste separation, etc.

Free Software encourage and allow pupils to do this things in areas
where computers are involved while non-Free Software teach them not to
help each other ("because sharing software is bad"), don't be nice to
each other (because you can't give a copy to your friends), don't work
together in a team, etc.

Another argument is that Free Software allows real learning. Pupils can
discover how it works and what it does internally. They can dive into
the software as deep as they want, no artificial borders. 
I like to compare the use of non-Free Software in the IT course with a
math course where you don't learn math skills but only how to use a
electronic calculator. In this case pupils wouldn't learn math but only
how to use an electronic device. The same is true for the use of
non-Free Software. With non-Free Software pupils only learn how to use a
black box but no real understanding and skills related to IT.

best wishes,
Björn

-- 
Björn Schießle                                    <address@hidden>
Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)               (http://www.fsfe.org) 
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