Filed under: Linux, Freeware, Open Source, Analysis, Education
Teacher confiscates Linux CDs, claims no software is free
by Lee Mathews Dec 10th 2008 at 2:00PM
If you're not familiar with it, the HeliOS project is an effort to get computers into the hands of kids who might not otherwise be able to afford them. To date this year, they've distributed over 300 machines. Apparently that's not enough to keep them from making an enemy.A middle school teacher named Karen observed one of her students demonstrating the abilities of his Linux-powered laptop to his classmates. What a great thing, a student exposing his peers to technology they probably weren't familiar with before....Right?
Wrong. Karen sprang into action, confiscated the CDs the student had brought to share, and unleashed the Spanish Inquisition.
Who is the charlatan who convinced this poor, misguided student that "free software" is something that actually exists?
Who could be so evil as to distribute non-Microsoft software to children? How can that person expect our children to survive in an MS-powered world? Once she had her answer, she sent Ken an email.
In her own words:
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.
She continues:
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.This is truly sad in so many ways. It's unfortunate that a teacher - who ought to be nurturing and educating children - is willing to crush a student's enthusiasm and devote time and energy to villifying something she clearly doesn't understand. No such thing as free software? Really?
Even Microsoft, who Karen obviously supports, provides numerous free applications. It really is a shame that someone can be so jaded as to think that no one in the world is generous and kind-hearted enough to share something as simple as software.
DS readers know better - you read about great, free software here all the time. What worries me is that we're not the "general public." Are we the minority?
Let's hope not.
[ via Techmeme ]
Update: Justice prevails: http://twitter.com/helios17/status/1051173010 (Thanks, Phil!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
kingkool68 said 2:18PM on 12-10-2008
This clearly wouldn't be a problem if Linux would just buy a super bowl ad slot once in a while...
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David said 2:38PM on 12-10-2008
bahahahahaha yea that'll be the day...that's a funny comment
but i would love that.
snupher said 2:21PM on 12-10-2008
I wonder which wiki article she found herself on while "researching"...
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burnout08 said 2:29PM on 12-10-2008
i don't understand why she "obviously supports" Microsoft... we used apple computers when i was in school... is there more to this story you forgot to mention, or are you simply assuming she was supporting Microsoft? as for the teacher i think its a real shame that the people teaching our children are so ill informed about the technology that surrounds all of us today... and to vilify the boy i think she has a real problem and it is the school that should be researching her
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Lee Mathews said 2:29PM on 12-10-2008
Did you read the other article? If not, do it. It's pretty self-evident.
burnout08 said 2:39PM on 12-10-2008
i actually just finished reading the article, and yea you are right it is obvious...this is actually really depressing to read i still cannot believe this is a teacher...
WL said 7:29PM on 12-10-2008
I'm sure Microsoft was simply used to illustrate a point due to it being the top proprietary software provider.
Halo2Master said 2:33PM on 12-10-2008
+Infinity to the first person who gets us an email address for this teacher, or at least for the school she works at.
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Adam said 2:39PM on 12-10-2008
Frankly, I don't think you can generalize too much about this one...this woman is just an idiot.
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OneWithABrain said 4:16PM on 12-10-2008
Ah, but that's where you're wrong. It's saddening to know, but most people in America actually are idiots.
79spitfire said 1:27AM on 12-11-2008
I think that sums it up..
West said 5:52AM on 12-11-2008
Just to be clear: It's not just America. It's the whole world. *facepalm*
David said 2:41PM on 12-10-2008
Yeah, sayings like "nothing in life is free," and "if it's too good to be true, it probably is," are very false today. The fact that there is free photo-editiing software that rivals Photoshop is true, and may be considered too good to be true to the average person. And there are loads and loads of free software out there. And some of it is good!
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West said 5:58AM on 12-11-2008
I wouldn't say those sayings are totally false today, but they don't apply to the world of computers, where programs can be copied and distributed easily...you can't do that in meat space...
R said 2:55PM on 12-10-2008
Karen's email is so absurd, it's hard to believe that it's real. She speaks as if HeliOS is an evil cult or something.
Even if everyone on the internet emails Karen and tells her she's wrong, I doubt she'll care. The tone in her email reeks of self righteousness. She is fully convinced that she is right. Because teachers are never wrong, right? I'm pretty sure she has a "If you can read this, thank your teacher" bumper sticker on her car.
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SDB said 10:52PM on 2-08-2009
This woman is a complete *expletive deleted* moron. I'm a teacher, and I would be so excited is my students brought in something new and wonderful to *gasp* SHARE with others! It saddens me that she has a job while so many struggle to find work in schools.
David Foxfire said 7:12PM on 12-10-2008
And that teacher wonders why the kid hates school.
It's actions like that which turn otherwise well-paying people into Pirates.
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PS_4 said 2:56PM on 12-10-2008
From the other article:
"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..."
Oh.... my... god. Do I need to explain at all why I think this woman should not be allowed to teach children?
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Mitch said 3:11PM on 12-10-2008
Charges should be pursued as the law allows...this teacher should be charged with theft immediately.
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iHoppipolla said 3:12PM on 12-10-2008
"Nothing in life is free."
Wow, she must have gotten so used to saying that to her clients that it must have just slipped out with the kids.
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