Re: Major interview

[bickiia@earlham.edu]

Doug Loss <dloss@csrlink.net> wrote:
>I don't think it will be an article so much as an interview, but I 
>agree that we should work in as much advocacy for Linux in education as

>we can.  Lets try to list the major reasons why Linux is a good choice

>for various educational functions over the alternatives.

This is an interview for Linux Weekly News.  You'll be preaching to the
converted.

Most of the readers of this interview will be in the family, so to
speak, and I think being honest and forward is the best way.  They don't
need to know Linux is cool.  They'll be interested in why Linux in
education could be cool, how you hope to make that combination a
successful one, and maybe what direction they or the larger community
would go in to help out.

I think the non-profit nature of most education is very important, and
is what could make Linux particularly important.  Part of that is that
money is always scarce for educational institutions.  But more
importantly is that most of the Linux community is non-profit.  Most of
the Linux community is people who do things because they want to,
because they enjoy it, because it helps other people.  That describes a
lot of the educational community as well.  The two have always been
close at the college level, seul-edu hopes to make them closer for all
levels of education.

This is why Linux people should care about education, and this is why an
education has a lot to offer Linux in return.  The important of altruism
is downplayed in a lot of Linux writings for reactionary reasons, but
seul-edu doesn't have to do that.  Lots of stuff in education are
created and shared by individuals without the motive of personal
advancement.  Doesn't that seem familiar?

Anyway, that's what I think is important to express about seul-edu.  And
I think these are things that other Linux writings don't talk about --
boosting Linux is hardly something new to the eyes of anyone who reads
anything about Linux.  So give the readers of Linux Weekly News
something new to think about.

  -- Ian