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Paul Sutton writes: > Charlie BT wrote: >> -----Original Message----- >> From: list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of >> Paul Sutton >> Sent: 22 December 2008 16:46 >> To: list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> Subject: Re: [LUG] OpenSource, Devon County Council >> jon.davey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: >>> Paul Sutton writes: >>>> Henry Bremridge wrote: >>>>> I have been advised that Devon County Council has 6782 Microsoft Office >>>>> licenses and currently have no plans to look at OpenOffice<snip> >>>>> Seems a bit of money waster to me. >>>>> >>>>> My initial idea was to write to: local MPs, local Councillors and ask them >>>>> what steps they were taking to save money. But I suspect that we also need to >>>>> get the local press involved as well. Christmas is probably a bad time to >>>>> raise it: maybe in the new year. If anyone has any ideas then please advise >>>>> >>>> Good point there come 2009 i intent to write to local MP adn councillor >>>> and ask why OSS is not under consideration, given the current economic >>>> climate. >>>> >>>> We need more public events, so thats another plan for 2009, get the >>>> general public along to Lug type meets and explain the alternatives, >>>> then ask them to write to their MP / Councillor asking why is taxpayers >>>> money being spent on something when there are alternatives to this >>>> software, that are free (as in freedom) but from the taxpayers >>>> perspective at no cost, >>>> >>>> the money saved could perhaps then be spent on in the case of toilets >>>> keeping them open all year and upgrade them to 21st century standards, >>>> or perhaps repair some of the potholes in the road. >>> Paul >>> ...I know that this isn't on the same level but I have recently been trying >>> to get my stepdaughter to mention Linux to her school teacher. She is >>> convinced, however, that they don't have any paticular systm on the >>> 'workstations' that they use at school. I guess that the systems have been >>> personalised to an extent so that when she logs in she's met with 'Hillfort >>> Primary School Computer Sysyem-Please Log In' or something similar. I have >>> tried to explain to her that underneath that the computer is more that >>> likely a Windows system but it makes no differance to her. I have Ubuntu >>> installed on the laptop that she uses at home and I'm hoping that if I keep >>> onto her she will mention it. But at the levil she uses it I don't suppose >>> she can see why a different system will make any differance. THat's not to >>> say her teacher won't appreciat the differance though. Any suggestions for >>> making a suggestion from a lowly parent have some kudos that might make Mrs >>> Teacher sit up and take me seriousily? >>> CHeers, JOn >>> It depends on how "open minded" people are, and in some cases how much >>> time they have, however on school forge they are starting to build up >>> free curriculum lesson plans / resources etc, which need to be promoted >>> along side free software, so openoffice + lesson plan + schemes of work >>> etc etc all as one package, from various sources, but 1 document or web >>> page to link them together. >>> >>> Perhaps at a future event someone can go through how to edit the lug >>> wiki and as a group we can start putting our resources on the actual >>> wiki, i have done some stuff, but really need help putting more >>> resources on to it. >>> >>> In the mean time, just get the word out there, kids love stickers, so >>> perhaps send for some ubuntu stickers for your daughter to give out at >>> school <£2 for 40 would be a good investment, or stick these to school >>> folders, books they write in (if they are allowed to decorate), etc. oh >>> and penguin stickers. too. >>> Paul >>> >> >> I work at a school and have tried to educate the ICT department to the >> alternatives to windows >> Everyone likes the idea, indeed many are well aware of one or two alternatives, >> but any course >> work has to be submitted in a format that adjudicators can decipher, what is >> really needed is >> a Linux Based Curriculum course! Change for education needs to come from the top, >> change for >> council and government also needs to come from the top but while those at the top >> remain uneducated >> they will continue to spend taxpayers money lining Mr Gates pockets! >> >> Rant over >> Charlie >> >> >> > hmm, perhaps having just one computer in a corridor or classsroom > installed with gnu linux can facilitate the demoing of a Linux, after > all we are meant to be teaching kids IT not Microsoft, so they should > be aware of a) different operating system and b) different licensing > models. As long as if its connected to the net the contact can be > filtered, if this is not possible then have it as stand alone. > > I think people have the right to know there are other OS's out there, > you never know having this computer may prompt some of the children to > come forward, and ask why more of the school computers can't run Linux, > you could then perhaps advise that their parents as local councillors why, > > Put local government in the awkward position of justifying proprietary > (sorry can't spell it) over open source / free software. If you have > one or two childen on your side, they can convert their peers. > > Paul > > Paul > > -- > The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG > http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list > FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html .....she does love stickers. She also said she'd put some on her folder and give one to her teacher. Where do I get said stickers BTW? Can I gat some from the ubuntu site? jon -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html