Re: [TLUG]: Re: [TLUG]: Teacher tells students Linux is "illegal" and confiscates their copies

[James Knott]

If she confiscated a knife, would it also be theft?  However, if
something is confiscated, it should be returned later or given to the
principal/parent/police as appropriate.


Tyler Aviss wrote:
> Seems to me that if she kept the kid's disks that it might be
> construed as "theft" ... ?
>
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 1:49 PM, James Knott <james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
>   
>> Some people really are that clueless.  I suppose that teacher thought he was
>> stopping software "piracy".
>>
>> Mike Ward wrote:
>>     
>>> This is so absurd it makes me want to suggest it's a publicity thing.
>>>
>>> - Mike
>>>
>>> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 10:57 AM, Michael Lauzon <mlauzon-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
>>> <mailto:mlauzon-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>> wrote:
>>>
>>>    Found this on Slashdot, however the quote is taken directly from the
>>>    blog -- with a link to the blog -- and the subject of the message is
>>>    taken from another story pointing to the blog:
>>>
>>>    "...observed one of my students with a group of other children
>>>    gathered around his laptop. Upon looking at his computer, I saw he was
>>>    giving a demonstration of some sort. The student was showing the
>>>    ability of the laptop and handing out Linux disks. After confiscating
>>>    the disks I called a confrence with the student and that is how I came
>>>    to discover you and your organization. Mr. Starks, I am sure you
>>>    strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support
>>>    your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I
>>>    am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and
>>>    spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to
>>>    adults for guidance and discipline. I will research this as time
>>>    allows and I want to assure you, if you are doing anything illegal, I
>>>    will pursue charges as the law allows. Mr. Starks, I along with many
>>>    others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you
>>>    make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods. I admire your
>>>    attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but
>>>    putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.
>>>
>>>    This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and
>>>    putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping
>>>    these children at all. I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they
>>>    would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older verison
>>>    of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service
>>>    to those receiving them..."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2008/12/linux-stop-holding-our-kids-back.html
>>>
>>>    --
>>>    Sincerely,
>>>
>>>    Michael Lauzon
>>>    --
>>>    The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
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>>>
>>>       
>> --
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>>
>>     
>
>
>
>   


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