[Wftl-lug] Tuxzine

[Charles McColm]

> I once gave 7 PC's with edubuntu to a local Montessori school and I recently
> stopped by to say hi and noted six of them were all now running windows 2000
> and one was still ubuntu, but now a simple file server.  Oh well.  I wonder
> if the computers would have had a fighting chance if I had given them a
> reference like Moving to Ubuntu (that had not yet been published at that

I'm sending 16 PCs with the Working Centre Linux Project installed on
them to a school in El Salvador. I think the PCs will probably
continue to run Linux because we also plan on giving them instructions
for their computer admins as well as providing them with contacts to
other schools and organizations in El Salvador that are also running
Linux. We're trying to keep the community in mind. If they look to
other schools for Linux help it's a lot better than if they look to
us.

Still, it just gave me an idea. I could open them up a little to allow
some remote administration. Well, I think with a Linux-based community
behind them the school will find an easier time adopting Linux. Here's
why I think it's a good match:

 * Spanish language option - the Spanish-speaking Linux community is pretty big.
 * A large variety of free/open educational software available.
 * A large variety of programming software, including Logo-like
languages for early programming concepts.
 * Pointers to resources specific to Linux in education.

I think part of the key to success will be making sure we're in touch
with the school for the first few months so that they get off to
enough of a start that they can then research and grow with existing
Linux communities and schools in the area.

I have a contact who is already sending Linux boxes to El Salvador, so
I'll be able to put the school in touch with similar projects.

Still... it is disheartening to see Windows on boxes you work so hard
to put Linux on, especially since there is a high chance that the
Windows licenses are pirated, or illegal according to Microsoft's
strict licensing policy regarding refurbished computers.