ubuntu-users Digest, Vol 24, Issue 154

[Srinivas Subramanyam]

Hai.My name is Ganesh.I am 12 years old.In India and in the school which I
study the Computer Syllabus is horrible.The books teach only about Microsoft
Windows and MS Office.And the teachers don't do anything about it.I hate
it.But what to do?

On 8/23/06, Alain Muls <alain.muls at telenet.be> wrote:
>
> On Wednesday 23 August 2006 14:02, ubuntu-users-request at lists.ubuntu.com
> wrote:
> > > On Wed, 2006-08-23 at 13:02 +0200, Sylvain Girard wrote:
> > > > I think the issue is that the kids learn to use office in school.
> How
> > > > close the openoffice functionality is to the ms office
> functionality,
> > > > the interface isn't quite the same.
> > >
> > > If your kids can find their way around Office, then can't find their
> way
> > > around OpenOffice, then they shouldn't be using the computer at all.
> > > Seriously.
> > >
> > > You are making an issue out of something that simply isn't an issue at
> > > all. You would never claim that they will not be able to use
> > > Firefox/Konqueror/Epiphany/Galeon/SeaMonkey/Mozilla/Opera/Netscape
> > > because they have already learned IE, right?
> >
> > Don't jump on the OP for the idiocy of the educational system. In the
> > U.K., it's the same. The teachers know nothing whatsoever about
> > computers and just drill the students on step-by-step menu pecking in
> > Microsoft Office and Windows, which the students then need to
> > regurgitate to pass the national tests.
> >
> > We're Windows-free at our house too and it's a problem. We have a Mac
> > (and two Linux PCs), so at least they have some place to memorize the
> > useless information about Word and Excel. But I'm making sure the kids
> > can also do the same things in OpenOffice and try to expose them to a
> > bit more about computers. One of them has taken an interest in Python,
> > for example.
> >
> > But it's a constant uphill battle. The schools are, more and more,
> > locked into long-term, overpriced contracts to offer rented Windows
> > computers. None of the universities that my eldest daughter
> > investigated even offered Macs, and she's looking at *art* schools.
> > Geezum. It's enough to drive you to despair.
>
> I totally agree with this opinion. It is a drill they need to reproduce
> without thinking. And it is not unlike Alan replied in another message
> that
> my eldest cannot use OpenOffice, he does btw since he has dutch spelling
> and
> a dutch interface there, while Word/Excel is English and I do not have the
> spelling dictionaries.
>
> I hope it will change since Belgium recently adopted the open document
> format,
> but I am afraid that there will be NO change in the educational system.
>
> The teachres do not want to investigate in OpenOffice even if they get the
> opportunity to distribute the exact same version, whatever OS, to ALL
> their
> students. How is this in other countries?
>
>
> > I can see why people
> > resort to home schooling...
> >
> > Sorry for the off-topic rant. It's something that has really bothered
> > me for years. I'd join any effort to change that, but it's an
> > incredibly high barrier right now in the U.K. and getting higher.
>
> --
>
> mvg/Alain
>
> ________________________________________________________
> Alain Muls                                               Tel +32.2.7426340
> Royal Military Academy                          Fax +32.2.7426472
> Dep CISS-ASGE                                 alain.muls at telenet.be
> ________________________________________________________
>
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