Re: [LUG] Linux in Schools

[kevin bailey <kevin_bailey@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

star office 5.2 is great - and is has charting facilities on the 
spreadsheets - and extensive help.

star office 6 is supposed to be even better with a cleaner interface.  

kev 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 12/12/01, 2:48:12 PM, Luc Hands <luc_hands@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote regarding 
Re: [LUG] Linux in Schools:


> I think Linux in schools is a great idea. As I happen
> to be sitting in one of said establishments at the
> moment, I've come to the conclusion that it is
> possible, as the two main arguments against it seem to
> be that a)Its too difficult for the pupils to use and
> b)there isn't sufficient software, e.g. office suites,
> etc.
> In answer to a, i'd say it's only as hard as you make
> it, it shouldn't really be any more difficult to teach
> 'em the basics that it would be with Windows, in all
> honesty (my 11 year old brother can cope...). Also in
> answer to b, i'd say that pupils needs for software
> aren't that great, a fairly basic word processor and
> spreadsheet should do evem most a-level pupils, as
> most of 'em don't even know how to use the software
> they've got properly! My one reservation is that i
> can't find a spreadsheet with a decent chart function
> (i.e. scatter graph with a facility for drawing a best
> fit/trend line - and ideas for this would be most
> appreciated (i've tried gnumeric and Ksheet)). Other
> that that there are the cost and security implications
> which would be very important to most schools, plus
> the stability factor (of the 16 computers in the room
> i'm in now, about 50% are unusable as they are so
> unstable, it's impossible to do anything at all
> without them crashing - but thats windows 95 for you
> (plus all of the abuse they get)).
> In general its a very good idea, however most schools
> are reluctant to stray from the path they know and
> (mistakenly, imho) trust, i.e. microsoft.

> Luc Hands

> =====


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