[ILUG] RedHat give Linux free to UK schools

[Michael Treacy]

Arising out of the report of RedHat donating Linux to schools, somebody 
asked how many schools in the country were using Linux.

Well, I teach computers in a school in Limerick, and while I am a big user 
of linux for the past 4 years or so, I haven't managed to get it into the 
school (yet!). We're still stuck with Windoze software, etc.

But it got me thinking. I know that St. Olivers use it very effectively and 
I had a search around the net to see what I could find. There are some great 
initiatives in the US:

http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/linux/

http://www.thestuph.com/litc/resources.html

http://www.slip.net/~brk/linuxedpp.htm

It strikes me that schools are a fantastic area where Linux could be 
introduced. As of yet, there is NO official Dept. of Ed. I.T. syllabus, so 
anything that schools are doing is flexible.

Most schools who have decent computer labs do the usual - wordprocessing, 
database, speadsheets, programming, etc. This is all available through Linux 
at a fraction of the cost (if not free!) of commercial software. And 
considering that schools are ALWAYS strapped for cash, the Linux alternative 
is a godsend for most school managers.

It might be possible, given enough interest, to consider "install fests" in 
a few locations around the country, extoling the merits of Linux to teachers 
of computers, etc.

The last time I upgraded our system in the school, we used Novell to network 
30 pc's together to a server. Had I known as much about Linux then as I do 
now, I know I could have saved the school thousands. That kind of money 
being saved is bound to make other teachers and school managers sit up and 
pay attention.

I'd be interested to hear peoples views on this.

Mike
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