Introducing Linux to the School

[dmd3x]

I want to introduce Linux to the school (most likely RedHat Linux 9), and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me. I think it is a good time to do this because our school is low on money due to budget cuts, and things that are free look more attractive.

There is a slight problem though. The computer admins at my school aren't very easy to pursuade, so I need some good ideas. Thanks!

Oh, and it's a high school (grades 9-12) in case you were wondering.

[Gertrude]

If you switch to linux there are going to be alot of things to worry about. For one the Admins are going to need to know how to administate networks of linux computers, if they have only used Windows they arnt going to switch anything over. The school may also need to hire linux admins, and linux/unix admins for the most part are going to want to be paid more than those Windows admins. Another thing is all the software the teachers, students, and whoever else have been using is all going to need to be replaced, then tought how to use it. It could end up costing more money than whats currently being spent. It could work but There would be alot of headaches to deal with durring the transition from one OS to the other.

[twilli227]

You can try http://www.google.com/linux and look under "school". A couple of other sites
http://seul.org/edu
http://baldwinets.tripod.com/linux.html look down the right side for other links.

[El_Cu_Guy]

Gertrude --

I applaud the rationale of your post. osOpinion recently posted/published an article called Linux Desktop Myths Exploded (http://osopinion.com/perl/story/21431.html) which covers many of these issues.

dmd3x --

One item you may consider is find schools which have deployed OSS and contact those responsible. They may be able to help you in submitting your proposal. You can find one example in some of the articles related to Oregon House Bill 2892. There is one article which provides just that but the site is down. Hopefully I can find it soon.

[gfreehed]

A great package is K12LTSP. It is a project that used the linux terminal server project and it works great. We actually use it at my University for the Residence house computers. There's a lot of support and the new version will use RH9.

[El_Cu_Guy]

Here's that info I was referring to.

The network administrator of tiny Riverdale School District, with two schools sandwiched between Portland and Lake Oswego, found himself with so little work to do after the conversion that he was able to return to teaching three-quarters time.