“Why should our school systems be paying for proprietary software when teachers are being laid off?”
Source: Computer World Blog
Update: Follow-up rant here
It is a question I wish the Community would ask superintendents and school boards more…problem is, sometimes, that conversation sometimes only flows one way. Why should programs like the NorthEast School of the Arts in NorthEast ISD be trimmed down when the District continues to pay expensive fees for MS Windows, MS Office, and other expensive proprietary software?
Let’s assume you have buy 2000 computers per year…multiply that by $40 licensing fee (approx) per machine for MS Windows, and you save $80,000, enough to pay for one teacher. Drop annual licensing fees for MS Office, and you save another “boatload” of money.
Financial exigency…it’s a scary term, yet we continue to hear it about it. And, it’s only going to get worse for the next budget year, not only in Texas but other states. We’re seeing a drop in tax revenue for overall in Texas of 10%. Are we THINKing DIFFERENT or still trying to crawl along with old approaches that are ineffective and spending that put schools in the hole?
Regrettably, “THINK DIFFERENT” today means think within the boxes provided. At a time when the operating system–Apple, Mac or GNU/Linux–seems to matter even less, we continue to focus on the two most popular ones. Why not switch all your computers to GNU/Linux, leaving applications like OpenOffice on them, but move everything to cloud computing?
If you are a school or district using GNU/Linux, please complete this short survey!
Low-income families, like poor school districts, need to be willing to try new things. And, often, they are…just not in the land of plenty (USA). I’m inclined to agree with some of the points made in this blog entry:
- Teachers Resistant to Change
- Teachers are Not Accountable for Technology
- School Boards are Technology Clueless
- Change the Grant Process
- Create a Technology Plan
Yet, some are brave enough to try:
-
A few growing pains aside, a Linux deployment in a Santa Rosa, CA elementary school district is maturing robustly, letting teachers and students stand apart from their previous dependence on Microsoft Windows while they try on new open software attitudes.
The transition in Santa Rosa from Windows NT 4 to Ubuntu Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) might not get an A+ mark based strictly on smoothness, suggested Jordan Erickson, who’s been overseeing the seven LTSP school networks ever since their launch about three years ago through his company, Silicon Valley-based Logical Networking Solutions (LNS). But overall, the Linux deployment is ranking highly with the seven schools involved, because it saves them money on Microsoft licenses, spares them from Windows upgrades, prevents computer viruses, and spurs greater collaboration, Erickson said.
The school district in Santa Rosa decided to switch to LTSP following a pilot program at a Boys and Girls Club in Petaluma, CA. Initially used in an after-school program for six-to-14-year-olds, the implementation at the kids’ clubhouse is still up and running, along with a smaller deployment at LNS, for a grand total of nine managed LTSP networks, all in Sonoma County. LNS administers the whole configuration from its offices in Santa Rosa, using Virtual Network Computing (VNC) over Secure Shell for Workstations (SSH) tunnels.
Source: Linux Makes the Grade in California Schools
A few Texas stars doing it (thanks to Don Davis and Ken Task)
(note: the inclusion of these folks and their districts does not constitute an endorsement of this blog entry…no, no one told me to put this disclaimer in, I just thought I would! (smile))
- Mark Cockrell – Honey Grove ISD – cockrell@honeygroveisd.net (thin client and more)
- Jeremy Fluhmann – Winters ISD – fluhmann@gmail.com (ubuntu/station and servers)
- Jimmy Blaschke – Woodsboro ISD – james_blaschke@wisd.net (internet servers – all in one)
- Sean Tynes – Calhoun County CISD – tyness@calcoisd.org (CMS’s [joomla])
- Rusty Meyners – Eustace ISD – rmeyners@eustaceisd.net – (Moodle/other)
- Leslie Sessions – Austwell/Tivoli ISD – techleslie@gmail.com (internet servers/other)
- Kevin Bryan – New Sumerfield ISD – kbryan@nsisd.sprnet.org (CMS/Moodle)
What would it take to make your superintendent and school board listen to reason? How much long will we spend money on software/hardware rather than on people? Let’s lower those class sizes, increase salaries, tighten operating budgets and get rid of every expense that takes money OUT of our District!
Simple process:
- Purchase hardware
- Install free, open source software
- Move to cloud computing where available, use the desktop where one must
- Stop paying for proprietary software like Windows, Mac OS, MS Office, iWork, iLife except in key multimedia stations.
How many teachers will we push out on the streets? How many classrooms will we pack with students? How many schools must close?
Think different…do it. NOW.
RESOURCES
For those interested in pursuing K-12 Linux Terminal Server Project in schools, check out Don Davis’ resources for his upcoming TCEA 2010 Conference presentation. Thanks to Don for sharing!
Subscribe to Around the Corner-MGuhlin.org
Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure
Discover more from Another Think Coming
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Another Think Coming 
It is interesting that your perspective is the only one "of reason." "What will it take to get superintendents to listen to reason?"Really? Really?There are a lot of reasons that open source is not used. Despite what you always write, the programs are NOT always as reliable, or as stable. Nor do these OS programs have any kind of support other than the obscure geeks that know each other. Where do I go for support for an OS program? There is no 1-800 number. I have to join a listserve or become part of the LInux Illuminati in order to get help. I am sorry Miguel, but you are really off on this one. OS, FOR THE MOST PART, is imitative, not innovative. For instance, is there, after all of these years, an OS program as GOOD as Kidspiration? No, There are imitators, there are online ones, but for little kids, there is NOTHING like Kidspiration. Sorry. There is NOTHING like iMovie 09. There is nothing like Garageband. (Audacity cannot do video and graphics, sorry.) Yes, there are online versions, but they too, for the most part are imitative. Lego Mindstorms? Pasco Probeware? Do they run on Linux? No, unless there is some hack somewhere that is not supported. Do Wacom tablets work with Linux? No. So I guess graphic arts is out.Will my iPod touch work with Linux? No, it is not designed to. So if it does, it is a hack job that is not supported by the vendor.It isn't always about the Operating system either. It is about the ecosystems that goes with the operating system. Sometimes, things just run on Mac or Windows. Sorry. That is a good enough reason. For someone that is always insisting that students be given the chance to show how innovative they can be, it pains me whenever you insist that OS is "just as good." It isn't. It is "good enough," but it isn't just as good. I think it is pretty amusing that the OS-ers in the world insist that everyone ELSE should use the cheapest programs they can find. Why stop there? Why not insist that we use the cheapest computers? The cheapest cars? Live in the cheapest houses? You know why they don't say that? Because they know, deep down, that you get what you pay for.Next time you are with all of the OS dudes, ask them what kind of cars they drive? Then ask them why didn't they get a less expensive car? Why waste money on a car that drives better or has a nicer interior than a less expensive car. The answer is in the experience. The more expensive cars give the drivers and passengers a better experience.
It is interesting that your perspective is the only one “of reason.” “What will it take to get superintendents to listen to reason?”Really? Really?There are a lot of reasons that open source is not used. Despite what you always write, the programs are NOT always as reliable, or as stable. Nor do these OS programs have any kind of support other than the obscure geeks that know each other. Where do I go for support for an OS program? There is no 1-800 number. I have to join a listserve or become part of the LInux Illuminati in order to get help. I am sorry Miguel, but you are really off on this one. OS, FOR THE MOST PART, is imitative, not innovative. For instance, is there, after all of these years, an OS program as GOOD as Kidspiration? No, There are imitators, there are online ones, but for little kids, there is NOTHING like Kidspiration. Sorry. There is NOTHING like iMovie 09. There is nothing like Garageband. (Audacity cannot do video and graphics, sorry.) Yes, there are online versions, but they too, for the most part are imitative. Lego Mindstorms? Pasco Probeware? Do they run on Linux? No, unless there is some hack somewhere that is not supported. Do Wacom tablets work with Linux? No. So I guess graphic arts is out.Will my iPod touch work with Linux? No, it is not designed to. So if it does, it is a hack job that is not supported by the vendor.It isn't always about the Operating system either. It is about the ecosystems that goes with the operating system. Sometimes, things just run on Mac or Windows. Sorry. That is a good enough reason. For someone that is always insisting that students be given the chance to show how innovative they can be, it pains me whenever you insist that OS is “just as good.” It isn't. It is “good enough,” but it isn't just as good. I think it is pretty amusing that the OS-ers in the world insist that everyone ELSE should use the cheapest programs they can find. Why stop there? Why not insist that we use the cheapest computers? The cheapest cars? Live in the cheapest houses? You know why they don't say that? Because they know, deep down, that you get what you pay for.Next time you are with all of the OS dudes, ask them what kind of cars they drive? Then ask them why didn't they get a less expensive car? Why waste money on a car that drives better or has a nicer interior than a less expensive car. The answer is in the experience. The more expensive cars give the drivers and passengers a better experience.
Follow up rant here:http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/02/peel-and-orange-put-your-money-in-tech.html
Follow up rant here:http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/02/peel-and-orange-put-your-money-in-tech.html
You should also try SSuite Office for free office software. Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm
You should also try SSuite Office for free office software. Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm
Let's see. In White Oak we use Moodle, Joomla, WordPress, Google Apps (yes, it's not opensource, but it is free)and OSTube for district wide use. Then, we install OpenOffice on EVERY machine put in use. I agree with Tim that there are times where OS does matter. We otherwise could not have the transparency in our district without all of the podcasting and media creation done with the Macs. Macs make it easy, effective, and professional looking. Doing away with expensive software options (with little to no negative issue) like Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and similar allows us to move money into much more needed areas. Training and staffing come to mind. Saying you can wipe out an OS and go Linux only without consequence is like saying you can put all kids in online learning without a face to face teacher without consequence. It's just not true in all instances. Some, yes. All, no.
Let's see. In White Oak we use Moodle, Joomla, WordPress, Google Apps (yes, it's not opensource, but it is free)and OSTube for district wide use. Then, we install OpenOffice on EVERY machine put in use. I agree with Tim that there are times where OS does matter. We otherwise could not have the transparency in our district without all of the podcasting and media creation done with the Macs. Macs make it easy, effective, and professional looking. Doing away with expensive software options (with little to no negative issue) like Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and similar allows us to move money into much more needed areas. Training and staffing come to mind. Saying you can wipe out an OS and go Linux only without consequence is like saying you can put all kids in online learning without a face to face teacher without consequence. It's just not true in all instances. Some, yes. All, no.
Okay guys, war is not the answer! A cooperative approach with consideration to all options is. A major holdup to the modern innovative thinking you desire is that too many people are too comfortable in their old ways to look at other options when they know how to do their same old things the same old way. Why do you think the students stay ahead of most teachers? Business relationships are another deterrent to change. As you stated, money is always an issue in education and some funding just doesn’t happen without help from your friends.I love free software options and use many, Windows and Mac. (Sorry, I don’t have Linux or I’d use that too!) But there are some things you just can’t replace. (Publisher is still the greatest of its’ kind in my opinion.) I require my students to use Mac and freeware software options in class but they have to learn Microsoft products for competitions such as UIL.What is my best-case recommendation for us? Evaluate the options and the consequences of your changes and make a gradual move away from high cost tools when you feel it will work for you. (At least gradual will get you moving somewhere.) Obviously, if you are given the choice between free software options and no software options because of cost, you’ll want to use free. If your district can afford an industry standard photo editing or publishing software, then provide that for your students.The students in my classes every day will never choose a public library over the Internet, a phone book over an online search, a hard drive to store music files over on-line streaming capabilities from a cell phone or spending money on software when they can do the same thing free. Where do YOU think we’re headed?
Okay guys, war is not the answer! A cooperative approach with consideration to all options is. A major holdup to the modern innovative thinking you desire is that too many people are too comfortable in their old ways to look at other options when they know how to do their same old things the same old way. Why do you think the students stay ahead of most teachers? Business relationships are another deterrent to change. As you stated, money is always an issue in education and some funding just doesn’t happen without help from your friends.I love free software options and use many, Windows and Mac. (Sorry, I don’t have Linux or I’d use that too!) But there are some things you just can’t replace. (Publisher is still the greatest of its’ kind in my opinion.) I require my students to use Mac and freeware software options in class but they have to learn Microsoft products for competitions such as UIL.What is my best-case recommendation for us? Evaluate the options and the consequences of your changes and make a gradual move away from high cost tools when you feel it will work for you. (At least gradual will get you moving somewhere.) Obviously, if you are given the choice between free software options and no software options because of cost, you’ll want to use free. If your district can afford an industry standard photo editing or publishing software, then provide that for your students.The students in my classes every day will never choose a public library over the Internet, a phone book over an online search, a hard drive to store music files over on-line streaming capabilities from a cell phone or spending money on software when they can do the same thing free. Where do YOU think we’re headed?
I'm trying to bring my open source background with me into the K-16 environment. While my work at Texas A&M and Angelo State was more infrastructure focused, I'm getting a chance now to reach out into the desktop environment more. So, a quick breakdown of our environment, we're a ~650 student district with ~500-550 end user "nodes". We're mostly Windows with about 75 iMacs and Macbooks and a handful of Linux desktops. Our infrastructure is mostly Linux with a few Windows servers.I've successfully started deploying Ubuntu desktops into our environment. Some of our labs will soon be running Ubuntu and with the help of Virtual Bridges' VDI solution (http://vbridges.com/) and Ulteo OVD (http://www.ulteo.com/), we will support Windows desktops as needed and allow students to have a choice. I'm curious to see how it all shakes out.Again, I speak more from an infrastructure stand point, but I'll say that there's a lot more open source going on in infrastructure within schools than on the desktop side. El Paso, Spring, Austin, Waco, and countless others use it for various needs. {I removed my infrastructure "rant"}One argument that I've heard too, is that most of these students have trouble affording some of the proprietary software, should they want to work on it at home. Open source frees that restriction. So one area I would be curious to see some research on is the comparison of some closed-source proprietary software that is considered superior to any open source option currently available, where a student can work and play with the open source version at home and school, versus the school going with a proprietary software package that may be cost prohibitive for most of the students to have at home. Would there be differences in the quality of work submitted by the student?And just to address Tim's response about open source being imitative and not innovative. I disagree and I've seen it where the closed-sourced proprietary software was being imitative. Even Microsoft is known to imitate. I'll consent that I've seen my fair share of open source "imitating", but at some point, everyone's stuff tries to serve the same function.And for those where support is an issue, most premier open source companies provide support (same goes for mature projects). I'm an Ubuntu user, so if I wanted to get support for my desktop, I would buy a support contract with Canonical. If I'm using Zenoss for my monitoring, I can get support from them. To me, that's also part of the decision process for deciding on what software to go with.I'm not an educator, so I'm sure I would never be able to do the educational open source area justice. But a lot of the concerns with open source are being addressed by numerous poeple out in the world who do a much better job than I at showing reasons for going with one over the other, depending on the needs and situation. I'm not going to go with an open source solution just because there's no licensing cost. I'm going to try and consider all of my options. I guarantee there's expensive software out there that doesn't do near as good of a job as some of the open source solutions. And, as others have and will point out, there's closed-source, paid software out there that does a better job than some of the open source solutions currently available.What's the famous Mahatma Gandhi quote that several people tend to use, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Watching how open source has evolved over the past few years, for the most part, we're in the "then they fight you" stage.
I'm trying to bring my open source background with me into the K-16 environment. While my work at Texas A&M and Angelo State was more infrastructure focused, I'm getting a chance now to reach out into the desktop environment more. So, a quick breakdown of our environment, we're a ~650 student district with ~500-550 end user “nodes”. We're mostly Windows with about 75 iMacs and Macbooks and a handful of Linux desktops. Our infrastructure is mostly Linux with a few Windows servers.I've successfully started deploying Ubuntu desktops into our environment. Some of our labs will soon be running Ubuntu and with the help of Virtual Bridges' VDI solution (http://vbridges.com/) and Ulteo OVD (http://www.ulteo.com/), we will support Windows desktops as needed and allow students to have a choice. I'm curious to see how it all shakes out.Again, I speak more from an infrastructure stand point, but I'll say that there's a lot more open source going on in infrastructure within schools than on the desktop side. El Paso, Spring, Austin, Waco, and countless others use it for various needs. {I removed my infrastructure “rant”}One argument that I've heard too, is that most of these students have trouble affording some of the proprietary software, should they want to work on it at home. Open source frees that restriction. So one area I would be curious to see some research on is the comparison of some closed-source proprietary software that is considered superior to any open source option currently available, where a student can work and play with the open source version at home and school, versus the school going with a proprietary software package that may be cost prohibitive for most of the students to have at home. Would there be differences in the quality of work submitted by the student?And just to address Tim's response about open source being imitative and not innovative. I disagree and I've seen it where the closed-sourced proprietary software was being imitative. Even Microsoft is known to imitate. I'll consent that I've seen my fair share of open source “imitating”, but at some point, everyone's stuff tries to serve the same function.And for those where support is an issue, most premier open source companies provide support (same goes for mature projects). I'm an Ubuntu user, so if I wanted to get support for my desktop, I would buy a support contract with Canonical. If I'm using Zenoss for my monitoring, I can get support from them. To me, that's also part of the decision process for deciding on what software to go with.I'm not an educator, so I'm sure I would never be able to do the educational open source area justice. But a lot of the concerns with open source are being addressed by numerous poeple out in the world who do a much better job than I at showing reasons for going with one over the other, depending on the needs and situation. I'm not going to go with an open source solution just because there's no licensing cost. I'm going to try and consider all of my options. I guarantee there's expensive software out there that doesn't do near as good of a job as some of the open source solutions. And, as others have and will point out, there's closed-source, paid software out there that does a better job than some of the open source solutions currently available.What's the famous Mahatma Gandhi quote that several people tend to use, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Watching how open source has evolved over the past few years, for the most part, we're in the “then they fight you” stage.
I agree. Sometimes people are too comfortable with what they already have or know. It takes time to figure out other resources/options, and that doesn't guarantee how effective the software or application might be. Knowing where to go, or being able to network with others helps. I'm somewhat new to OS and some other aspects of technology. So I really appreciate it when others with experience are willing to share ideas & resources. Collaboration is wonderful.
I agree. Sometimes people are too comfortable with what they already have or know. It takes time to figure out other resources/options, and that doesn't guarantee how effective the software or application might be. Knowing where to go, or being able to network with others helps. I'm somewhat new to OS and some other aspects of technology. So I really appreciate it when others with experience are willing to share ideas & resources. Collaboration is wonderful.
Think there is a bigger issue about not moving to Open Source. Perhaps it cannot or should not provide the whole solution. But we are living in changing times, so what seems good today isn't going to be good tomorrow. We have got to be open and thoughtful. And careful consider where we spend our money. But some critics are getting really heated about this. Just the mildest suggestion that we look at alternatives gets heavy criticism. http://www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/the-assembly-month-three?showallcomments=true#CommentKey:2e647118-0d18-4095-9717-1a3e1a79f424
Think there is a bigger issue about not moving to Open Source. Perhaps it cannot or should not provide the whole solution. But we are living in changing times, so what seems good today isn't going to be good tomorrow. We have got to be open and thoughtful. And careful consider where we spend our money. But some critics are getting really heated about this. Just the mildest suggestion that we look at alternatives gets heavy criticism. http://www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/the-assembly-month-three?showallcomments=true#CommentKey:2e647118-0d18-4095-9717-1a3e1a79f424