"ICT Support Officer" <ict@canonpalmer.com> wrote:
When I find that a LEA tells a school that it can't have Linux servers because they don't support it and I say you don't need to, we will and then they say you can't have remote access except using a Windows only solution I get just a tad annoyed. Then after a meeting they refer me to the same clueless minion who I know doesn't understand diddle.
You see its this judgmental attitude that gets my back up. Even if they
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Sounds more like Ian is complaining about LEAs (plural) with rather a "judgmental attitude".
are clueless, they have a right to a viewpoint and a right to doing their job their way. To call someone this without knowing them or their background is just plainly wrong.
Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
This is a SUSE forum or other, is it not? The fact that we are on this list is because we all support open Source. If I support Liverpool Football club, I would not normaly join Arsenal. So, all opinions here however harsh they may be are for us alone. When on independent grounds with other people we would use different phrases and aproaches.
Well this is where we differ then. I have only one approach and that (as people on this list no doubt are becoming aware) often gets me into trouble. I'd defend myself in saying that my offences are not deliberate. I do try to show I appreciate people despite differences.
All comments made by Ian or any other which may sound judgemental or "harsh" in this list are perfectly acceptable. I wish there were more people like Ian or Mark here.
Well of course you do. We all want people around us that agree with us and that speak up for a cuase we believe in. They both don't just talk the talk they walk the walk. But I still maintain that a block to open source in schools is the perception many people in schools have of the people pushing it. I too appreciate Ian's work and value his opinions. I have learned loads fom him and was very close to going with his company when I was at Romsey School. (IIRC). However, I know of one scghool where Ian has not come across well because he seemed too evangelistic. A price he has to pay perhaps. In conclusion (I don't intend to continue on this anymore, I am bothering too many people and obviously don't have the correct approach) I don't agree with the negative view many people on this list have of LEAs and teachers in school. I believe the majority do a good job in very difficult circumstances. I am pro open source but not against proprietary software. I believe that I can be a useful aid to getting more open source into schools, indeed I have done so. If I can contribute to production e.g. an open source version of KS3 curriculum material I will do so. I have asked on the Hampshire secondary co-ordinators mailing list for info back on use of open source in schools, at the same time putting in adverts for about a dozen open source projects. If anyone is interested in the results of my survey let me know, I should have something to put out in the new year. BTW Merry Christmas ^ / \ / \ | -- Colin McQueen