Teacher tells students Linux is "illegal" and confiscates

Wed Dec 10 22:08:57 UTC 2008

Maybe the idea of 'the first one is free' reminded her of drug dealers.
Once the kid gets hooked on Linux, you charge him for something big time.
Upgrades? Bug fixes? Since that's the Microsoft philosophy, it wouldn't be
entirely far-fetched.

She's clueless but I thought the Linux guy was a bit condescending about
the whole thing. I worked with university profs who had absolutely no idea
about this stuff, so she's not alone. I'd give people a chance to learn
and recant before opening up with the big artillery.

Peter

> 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/
>>>>    TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
>>>>    How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> --
>>> Use OpenOffice.org <http://www.openoffice.org>
>>> --
>>> The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
>>> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
>>> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Use OpenOffice.org <http://www.openoffice.org>
> --
> The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists
>

-- 
Peter Hiscocks
Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto
http://www.syscompdesign.com
USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator
647-839-0325

--
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TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
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