[GRLUG] Linux @ school.

[Benjamin Flanders]

The reason schools pay money for Windows is because they don't know
any better.




On 9/27/06, Ron Lauzon <rlauzon at gmail.com> wrote:
> Let me chime in on this, since this is a sore point for me (both my dad and
> one of my brother's are teachers).
>
> Having had bad teachers, and having seen what the schools did to my
> brothers, I can see Collin's point.  I think that we pay teachers way too
> much *for what we get from them*.
>
> I think the issue here is value.  I don't mind paying a good teacher plenty
> of money, but I do mind paying a bad teacher alot of money.  But current
> public school rules say that teacher have to be paid not on how good a job
> they do, but on their senority.  No wonder why charter schools tend to do
> better.
>
> Now back to Linux...
> One of the issues with computer technology in schools is money.  Why are
> schools PAYING for Windows when Linux is free?  Why are schools PAYING for
> MS Office when OpenOffice is free?
>
>  These are the type of questions that parents need to bring up to the
> schools when the schools say "we don't have the money for xxxxx."  Part of
> the problem with the schools is that they do not spend their funds wisely.
>
>
>
>
> On 9/27/06, Benjamin Eavey <ben at eavey.com> wrote:
> > > 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?
> >
> > I don't want to go too far into this debate, so I'll just give my
> > opinion and leave it at that:
> >
> > You say $50,000/year is way too much for a teacher's salary.
> >
> > I have 2 kids in elementary school.
> >
> > Your opinion scares me.
> >
> > I don't want someone who makes $25,000/year, for instance, teaching my
> > kids.  Period.  What kind of people will you end up with if you don't
> > pay a decent salary?  You'll end up with people who couldn't get a
> > better job doing something else.  That's frightening.
> >
> > My children will (unfortunately) spend more time with their teacher
> > during the week than with me.  I want that person to be someone who has
> > a good education, who is well-qualified, and who makes a good salary.  I
> > want the position of "teacher" to be desirable and satisfying for
> > intelligent, well-educated people who can be good role models for kids.
> >
> > Basically, I don't want someone in a comparable economic position to the
> > assistant manager at Wendy's educating my children.
> >
> > Thanks for reading.
> >
> > We can go back to talking about Linux now...  :)
> >
> > -Ben
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> >
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Ron Lauzon - rlauzon at acm dot org
>    Homepage: http://7lauzon.home.comcast.net/
>    Weblog: http://ronsapartment.blogspot.com/
>
>    DNRC: Lord of All Things That Are Fattening
>
>    "To be sure, conservative radio talk show hosts have a built-in
>    audience unavailable to liberals: People driving cars to some
>    sort of job." - Ann Coulter
>
> Microsoft Free since July 06, 2001
> Running Mandrake Linux 10.1
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