June 2000 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Linux and Thin Client Technology
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 19 Jun '00

19 Jun '00

A good place to start will be the Seul/Edu pages. Also, there are 'howto documents' about running 'X terminals' on the Linux Documentation project and the following 'X terminal' pages : http://dns.solucorp.qc.ca/xterminals/ http://www.linuxdoc.org/ http://www.seul.org/edu/ Basically, the technology you should be looking at involves running 'X terminals' to display the graphical output from applications running on a server. I have a few emails from past discussions about this topic, if you want more - get in touch. Kevin. Northants Linux Users Group, kevin(a)northants.lug.org.uk

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Linux and Thin Client Technology
by Elizabeth Bentley 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

We are currently running RM Connect, but are looking into the possibility of introducing a thin client server set-up, essentially to enable us to continue to run older machines such as 386s and Apple LCs, while updating software. A major part of the cost will still be licences. So I am very attracted by the idea of Linux. What are the possibilities? Can it be done, and if so which system be best? I should greatly appreciate any help you can give me. TIA -- Elizabeth Bentley Head of Learning Resources Northbrook C of E School Taunton Road Lee London SE12 8PD Tel: (+44) 020 8852 3191 Fax: (+44) 020 8463 0201 email: info(a)northbrook.lewisham.sch.uk ------------------------------------------------------- School Librarians Network is a forum where UK school librarians (and MROs and support staff) can exchange news, views and ideas and give each other mutual support. To subscribe send a blank email to: <sln-subscribe(a)egroups.com> -------------------------------------------------------

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Gigabit SC Cards
by Bill Antonia 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

Are there any Gbit SC network cards which have a driver for Linux? Regards Bill Antonia Beacon Community College Home bill(a)beaconhillcott.freeserve.co.uk Work at(a)beacon.e-sussex.sch.uk

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Cyber bullying - the end is nigh...
by Matt Johnson 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

There's fair points on all sides of this one. I'm shutting up on this thread now for fear of us all going round in circles. No more from me. Not a sausage. Zero. Nothing. -- Matt Johnson You maybe interested to hear that I've just ordered some "scan 'n shock mice" from Microsoft. They ship with software that actually scans the mail at the point of send, and if found to contain offensive words (I believe Microsoft have included 'linux' on that list of words, but it's editable) simply deliver a quick but potentially lethal jolt of electicity. It sounds harsh to some, it may even effect some children's GCSE results, but I'm hoping it will prove an effective solution to the problem. I'll let you know how I get on. (Microsoft have issued a warning that companies and educational establishments shouldn't attempt to make there own versions of these as innocent users could be placed in danger). __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Cyber bullying
by Edgehill E-Mail Service 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

Dear all, I have been following this thread with some mounting horror. I know that here at Edgehill in Darkest Devonshire we are less susceptible to this type of problem than many schools. I _have_ to repeat my original comment - MOST of the problem (for us) seems to be outside of the school environment. I also repeat my previous statement - our personal e-mail system is officially described as "postcard security" - it is open to inspection in the process of sending, and so far has not been grossly abused (we send out only about a dozen e-mails each day, mostly from our boarders along the lines of "Dear Mum & Dad ... ".) The pupils KNOW that I can read their mail (even though I don't), and that their replies are printed and distributed with the internal mail. If the privacy never existed (and it's free) then they don't miss it. If privacy for e-mail is required, they can arrange for confidential sending, or must use one of the Hotmail/Postmaster type services on-line. By not supporting internal e-mail, we have removed this medium for bullying. Any message to be passed internally is simply placed in a public folder for collection. No privacy, no problem, and spoofing is impossible (barring password-theft), as the original owner of the file is logged (along with time, date and source system etc. etc. etc.) - and the pupils have some regard for anyone who can not only tell them what they have done, but when, how and to whome whilst masquerading as whome ... and for inventive threats involving vats of hot marmalade, the lake, long ropes and catapults :) I might add that, like most school IT units, we have THE Power. A ban for the rest of the term is usually enough, and a visit to the Deputy Head (official "Scary-Person #2") has so far been necessary only once. Being a private school, we also have the financial sanction as leverage. The Cyber-Bully is a new problem, and one which we are hopefully in a position to reduce to negligability. Denial of service is the best, and most immediate sanction we have, but only for pupils who have no other access to on-line systems. Simply logging a user off and telling them to get out of the computer room is usually enough to elicit an apology the following morning. (Like I said, Darkest Devonshire has a relatively genteel pace of life :) Regards, Paul <SysAdm(a)edgecoll.clara.net> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Edgehill IT Department Email Service. Please check sender's address from body of Message for return address. Find us at: www.edgecoll.clara.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Cyber bullying
by adrian.wells 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

Isn't this enough on bullying? but... >Surely, these kids can only do it once! After that >their access is revoked. I don't see that recurrence >is a problem. Just don't allow 'offenders' computer >time. Please tell me if this is gross >over-simplification. Of course not! > know that when a child at our place tried to look up >ome 'offensive' material (just once) he was caught, >nd then banned from accessing - full stop. Problem >olved. Make sure everyone know's the rules. Make sure >hey know that their emails will be scanned. I'm all >or privacy, but if a child was verbally bullying, you >ould listen in, then take appropriate action. Make no >ppologies - they WILL be scanned. >et me know if any of this is nonsense.Again no (but can we swap schools please?) The problem is that e-mail and the web are an easy option for teachers, so little Freddie needs his e-mail (even if he misuses it) to do the 101 things that the teacher has asked the class to do. I remove offenders from the system (you think that RM filtering is effective? think again!) for a pastime but staff tell me to re-install them.

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May be of interest ...
by Roger Whittaker 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue45/ward/ward.html -- Roger Whittaker SuSE Linux Ltd The Kinetic Centre Theobald Street Borehamwood Herts WD6 4PJ ---------------------- 020 8387 1482 ---------------------- roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk ----------------------

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Cyber bullying
by Matt Johnson 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

Surely, these kids can only do it once! After that their access is revoked. I don't see that recurrence is a problem. Just don't allow 'offenders' computer time. Please tell me if this is gross over-simplification. I know that when a child at our place tried to look up some 'offensive' material (just once) he was caught, and then banned from accessing - full stop. Problem solved. Make sure everyone know's the rules. Make sure they know that their emails will be scanned. I'm all for privacy, but if a child was verbally bullying, you would listen in, then take appropriate action. Make no appologies - they WILL be scanned. Let me know if any of this is nonsense. Cheers -- Matt Johnson ICT Coordinator __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Cyber bullying
by Matt Johnson 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

>1. Would you censor private mail written by hand >and snail- >mailed? How do you justify the distinction? >Surely, private means just that. And is it within >your legal >right to censor it? Nothing like a debate to get the mail flying! Cheers. A good point, but: If a child was writing racist hate mail from school? On school headed paper? Yep, I would. If they were writing to pen friends as part of the curriculum, then yes, I'd read the letter there too. There's no doubt in my mind that if it's on school property, then it's our responsibility to check that there's no abuse of OTHER peoples liberty (from hate mail, theft etc). __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Cyber bullying
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 16 Jun '00

16 Jun '00

>> Make sure everyone know's the rules. Make sure >> they know that their emails will be scanned. > Would you censor private mail written by hand > and snail-mailed? How do you justify the distinction? Well, if someone is sending out snail-mail using the schools headed note-paper, to pester some one, etc then could you be justified here also ... ? It is not quite a privacy thing, but more a reputation thing. All email from the school is labelled from the school. There is nothing to stop the said bully going home, and using his personal account to do the same - but that is a problem for his ISP. This is the key issue. Make it very public that the use of the schools facilities is encouraged, but that they use them on the condition that all traffic is monitored (internal and internet), whether you actually do it or not :-). You may need to spell it out in terms of email, web, news, IRC, etc - maybe even in some sort of policy document, with the agreement of the school management ... (I don't know how these things work) - It is not an easy issue to sort out, but the key thing is that *everyone* should know where they stand (staff and pupils) IMO. It may also be worth considering things like disclaimers on outgoing email/news posts, etc, but only if you *really* feel that it could be a problem, and that someone could come back to the school and shout at you for something the kids have done :-) (and this is before you get into the acceptable use of things like FTP and installing screen savers and games and virus checking, etc). I think the key thing is leave them in no doubt about an acceptable use policy (the same as with any commercial organisation too). There is a similar problem with a sysadmin having access to a packet sniffer to debug network problems, or the 'root' account on a server where you could go poking around in peoples 'private' files ... There is a basic trust thing too. Just my thoughts Kevin. (usual disclaimers apply - ie assume I don't know what I am talking about :-)

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