[Cialug] Iowa Public Schools - Linux Terminal Server

[Chris Hilton]

If you think about it, back when schools were first getting computers; 
granted it was only larger schools usually.  They would be spending what 
they now spend on a G5 to get a cheap computer.

I think this whole "computer in every students lap in every classroom" 
ideology is pushing schools to put the cheapest computers in.  I 
remember at Valley there were a lot of computers....way too many 
actually.  There were labs that weren't used all the time, and most the 
use was well...not real use IMO.  I don't consider "Internet research" 
consisting of some mediocre geocities sites to be a valid use of 
"costly" computer time.  And the one spot where research really should 
be happening (the library) was where students went to goof off on the 
computers (not classes to do research, I still wonder what all those 
books were for, no one read them).

Classes like keyboarding need computers.  Classes about *sigh* computer 
applications *groan* need computers.  Programming classes, sometimes, 
need computers.  But Ms. Joybergh's (obviously a fake name, I hope) 
American History class does not need to indulge the kids in some 
half-baked site about American Indians.  Not that this isn't a valid 
subject, the key part is the half-baked part....  You don't need the 
internet to guide everyone through the same information, that's what 
projectors were invented for.....

Totally unhelpful to the original guy, but I had to put in my $.02!

Major Stubble wrote:

>These are just my two cents.  It's not meant as a criticism to the
>ideas offered - more as a op ed on the terrible situation of our
>schools.
>
>  
>
>>In larger schools...they typically have all the in-house tech support they
>>need between the dedicated IT team, and the high school kids, (some of which
>>are involved in Cisco, RedHat, and/or Microsoft certification programs) 
>>About the only time they call in a consultant, is when they're doing major
>>changes of infrastructure. 
>>    
>>
>
>I came from a larger school (Davenport West High School).  I grant you
>that I have been long removed from the day to day activities there. 
>However, I remember that even as large as Dav West was, almost all the
>technological needs of the students and the teachers were taken care
>of by the teachers.  That's why when Ms. Smiley (real teacher) wants
>to move most of the school's yearbook layouts to the Mac, she will
>either listen to publisher or a talented student from her class.
>
>This was the way things went in the keyboarding class down at
>Davenport Smart Junior High School.  Hardware, software,
>authentication.  All of this was decided and implemented  by the
>supervising teacher.  Most have little experience.  Almost all will
>stick with what was there previously.  That's why the office
>proficiency classes in Davenport are inconsistent from classroom to
>classroom.  I pray the situation has change.  I doubt it has.
>
>  
>
>>For a full time staff member: new tech: $24K, experienced tech: $35K and up 
>>    
>>
>
>I fear that this is both accurate and abysmal.  Even if it is for a
>single school, such a meager budget is woefully shortsighted.  This is
>just my opinion, but I have seen the load that a good school can put
>on a full-time, non-administration (ie not the associate principles)
>hire.  [EDITORIAL: From top to bottom, it would seem that the work
>load is in reverse to the pay structure.]
>
>A good system administrator (alone) would end up working 50-60 hours a
>week.  This means that the said administrator would earn on average
>$11.50 to $13.50 an hour (assuming the $35K).  I'm surprised that
>school boards don't jump on this, as it would be like paying for a
>single teacher [NOTE: sarcasm].
>
>  
>
>>2.  Does anyone believe it would be more cost effective to use Linux in
>>place of Apple or Microsoft in the K12 environment? ...
>>    
>>
>...
>  
>
>>From my perspective, the absolute easiest way these days (read that
>>as needing the least amount of specialized knowledge) is probably with an
>>OSX server.  You get the Macs on a central login, as well as providing Samba
>>services (and centralized login)  to the Win clients. 
>>    
>>
>
>I hope this is the case now.  I know that a year ago, the Cedar Falls
>school board denied a request for additional funds to the standard IT
>budget so that the high school could replace both the hardware and the
>software currently in place (a move towards this idea).  I fear that
>this is a similar problem with most school districts.  Frankly, the
>over-priced cost of the Apple systems prevents this dream scenario. 
>Most school board members (unfairly) note that they could purchase
>three Dells (or worse - Gateways) for the price of a G5 [I know that I
>am exaggerating, only I do remember a certain board member making this
>statement to the local rag.].  Given this mindset, how many teachers
>and secretaries work within the system with underpowered PC's or Mac's
>with OS 9.x?
>
>*sigh*
>
>I apologise.  I'm really just venting.  This isn't just a problem with
>K12.  I'm sure that most of you with full-time positions in IT know
>that this mindset exists in every realm of both education and private
>business.  I just find it upsetting because when mediocrity is the
>norm, all we can ask of the future is a lower standard.
>
>I personally feel that many of these issues arise from higher ups who
>have a mindset that their pay check is more important than anyone
>else's.  In the end, it is those who are serviced (in this case K12
>students) who suffer.
>
>Good IT can be affordable.  The second question should not be how much
>it could cost.  Instead it should be, where is the money we need to do
>this right.
>
>In the end, this will only get worse.  So long as teachers and staff
>are treated as an irritating burden on the school board's pristine
>budget, we will never see the infrastructure that will best (or even
>adequately) serve the students of Iowa.
>
>-MS
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