[GRLUG] Linux @ school.

[Collin]

Tim Schmidt wrote:
>> Although it sounds like most people here are all for circumventing the
>> censorship, I disagree, and suggest caution.  Depending on where you
>> goto school, there may be policies in place which can get you suspended
>> for circumventing filtering and security tools.
>>     
>
> True.  Such policies, however, are misguided.
>   

Yes, they are. I remember doing all sorts of stuff back in HS and they 
didn't do anything about it. Heck, they even KNEW some of the stuff we 
did but we never really abused it too bad.
>   
>> I think its entirely reasonable for a school to censor web content
>> available to students.  Is pornography acceptable?
>>     
>
> Here's the problem...  define pornography.  Is this porn?
> http://dorigo.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/vegetable-porn/
>
> How about pornography in the context of a physiology class, or
> history, or comparative religion, etc...  censorship is tantamount to
> declaring that a subject is never to be discussed, explored,
> contemplated, or learned from.  It's the antithesis of what a school
> is all about.
>   

Ahahah... Sadly I've seen vegetable porn before... Ran into it while 
trying to clean up a machine I had purchased. That kind of thing is 
really... weird...

>   
>> I seriously don't
>> think students spending time on MySpace, fark, etc is useful.Full
>> disclosure... I used to work in a public school district technology
>> group, and I have a 2 year old kid.  At the same time.. I don't think
>> its right for China, or any other country, to censor the Internet.  I'm
>> just making a point about it being a public school environment.
>>     
>
> Point made.  Fark bad.  Censorship good.  Eh.  How about we buy fewer
> $3000 dells with 2 year replacement contracts and spend the millions
> we save on getting our kids decent education in 15 student or fewer
> classes.
Or how about we don't pay teachers way more than they are worth and 
don't cater to their incessant demands? We waste far more money on 
teachers and their above average benefits than we ever could on buying 
computers and other supplies. Don't forget that the true cost of an 
employee is usually double their salary. For a teacher making 50,000 
that's upwards of 100,000 after payroll taxes and benefits. Now you tell 
me which is a better way to save money: Not buying $3,000 computers or 
knocking holier-than-thou teachers off their bully pulpits? Maybe we can 
use the money we save to buy better supplies and hire more teachers?