[ubuntu-uk] Government report warns about Microsoft lock-in

[Toby Smithe]

On Sat, 2007-01-13 at 10:17 +0000, Andy Trevor wrote:
> Toby Smithe wrote: 
> > Hi Phil,
> > 
> > I am all too keen to work with Becta. However, I feel that they should
> > at least allow me the simple courtesy of a hard-earned reply.
> >   
> 
> Guys there is already channel set up with Becta.  Ian Lynch from
> SchoolForge UK meets with them on a regular basis.

This is good to hear. What has been achieved so far through this
relationship?

> Becta asked for a single point of contact to the OSS community to come
> from OSC or Schoolforge UK.  Ian was chosen due to his depth of
> knowledge in this area.

I feel that a single point, whilst convenient, is fallible. The
community is so vast and varied. No matter how deep someone's knowledge
is, they cannot know everything. 

> Co ordinating efforts through the Schoolforge mailing list may be the
> best option.
> > On Fri, 2007-01-12 at 21:44 +0000, Phil Bull wrote:
> >   
> > > Hi Toby,
> > > 
> > > On Fri, 2007-01-12 at 20:16 +0000, Toby Smithe wrote:
> > > [...]
> > >     
> > > > I have been quite busy on the fight for free software for schools, and
> > > > am publishing any developments on that front at
> > > > http://tibsplace.co.uk/blog/index.php/category/free-software
> > > > 
> > > > I don't really trust BECTA. They didn't reply to my completely serious
> > > > e-mail, so I just assume they are been pressurised into preferring
> > > > proprietary software. They could just have issued this statement to make
> > > > us content. I will again write to them, but until I receive a reply, I
> > > > have no idea why I should think they are trustworthy.
> > > >       
> > > I've been following some of your efforts, and it does seem as though
> > > you've just been sent stock responses by their PR department. This is
> > > unfortunate considering the effort you've obviously put into this, but
> > > it's something we need to confront.
> > > 
> > > I think entering into a dialogue with BECTA will be necessary as a
> > > gateway to the LEAs (Local Education Authorities). A great deal of IT
> > > policy-making in schools rests with the LEAs, I believe, even if some
> > > schools choose not to follow their recommendations. FOSS-sympathetic
> > > LEAs would be able to provide resources and support on a level which
> > > could make the adoption of FOSS seem much more practical for a great
> > > deal of schools.
> > > 
> > > Please take a look at this Becta press release [1], especially the three
> > > reports in the 'Notes to Editors' section. I found them very
> > > enlightening; the biggest problem the schools studied seemed to come up
> > > against was a lack of support from the LEA. Some LEAs even seemed to
> > > actively discourage open-source adoption:
> > > 
> > > "The LEA provides no ICT support to the school, and some animosity has
> > > grown over the issue of the school using OSS." [2]
> > > 
> > > By working with Becta, we could hopefully open a useful communication
> > > channel with the LEAs.
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > 
> > > Phil
> > > 
> > > [1] - http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/press_out.cfm?id=4681
> > > [2] - Open Source Software in Schools: A case study report [1] (Page 6,
> > > Case Study 3, 'ICT in the school')
> > > 
> > >     
> 
> 
> -- 
> Andy Trevor
> Technical Director
> Cutter Project Limited
> 18 Lynn Rd, Ely
> Cambs, CB6 1DA
> Phone: 08700683356
> Mobile: 07840 988311
> http://www.cutterproject.co.uk 
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