[Fwd: [Fsfe-uk] Hello]

[Richard Smedley]

Ah, that reply-to nonsense :-)



Richard Smedley wrote:
> 
> > Chris Puttick wrote:
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > I've just joined and thought I'd throw this into the melting pot...
> 
> Hello Chris,
> 
> Welcome aboard :)
> 
> > <BG>
> >
> > Ex-commercial IT professional, graduate, professionally certified and full
> > member of IMIS. Moved into education sector 2 years ago, started with
> > Linux about the same time at home, introduced it to the schools about 1
> > year ago on servers and ICT support PCs. I'm a SuSE fan...
> >
> > </BG>
> >
> > Why did I put that in? Because it's why I'm having some success pushing
> > alternative software solutions in schools. I sit across from them, with my
> > (known) achievements in the schools I've helped, with my degree, my
> > letters after my name (MCP, MIMIS) and I talk sensibly and knowledgeably
> > about ICT in schools.
> >
> > The result is that when at some point in the conversation I suggest
> > looking at alternatives to MS and saving tens of thousands of pounds into
> > the process, they listen to me. I throw in a few big names they should
> > know (IBM/SuSE partnership, Sun, Borland) and suddenly they're agreeing to
> > adopt StarOffice and try out thin client and maybe making the open access
> > room (just web and office applications) pure Linux. School management can
> > add up, they just need to be shown. In fact, to be honest, they need
> > selling to. But it has to be by someone they accept as an expert.
> > Preferably someone they know is expensive to talk to.
> 
> I'm very interested in how this can be sold
> to individual schools from the 'outside'. Most
> of the schools that I know of using Free
> Software do so because of one dedicated individual
> on the staff. Without that person the schools
> would be running propritary alternatives.
> 
> Many of us have come to the conclusion that
> schools will only move to Free Software when
> they are told to do so by DfEE/ becta/ nesta/
> (possibly) LEAs - so I am very interested to
> read your comments above.
> 
> > This is the approach that is needed. Make it feel professional, unbiased
> > and complete. Be ready for the arguments with quietly reasoned responses.
> > And the arguments are very standardised. Possibly documentable, but I'm
> > not sure of the impact in that medium.
> 
> We could also, perhaps, do with some accurate
> information about where, below government level,
> the decisions are made.
> When last I spoke to a school directly on this
> they had the authority to make decisions but
> would only do what becta guided them to do.
> (which was "Be Tony's friend - use MS" ;-/  )
> 
> - Richard
> 
> --
> 
> Richard Smedley
> Production Editor, Linux Format
> 
> Telephone +44 (0) 1225 442244 ext 5038


-- 

Richard Smedley
Production Editor, Linux Format

Telephone +44 (0) 1225 442244 ext 5038