December 12, 2008 4:11 PM

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HIV 2 Elway

Don't mess with Texas.

December 12, 2008 8:55 PM

6 replies

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varro

@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: Don't mess with the edjumacation!

First comes Linux, then comes teaching evolution in biology class and contraceptive use in sex education. And then Jeebus comes down and kills everyone.

December 12, 2008 7:45 PM

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Megladon

@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: Yes leave americas toilet aka texas out of it.

December 12, 2008 7:27 PM

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zonk7ate9

@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: Every thing is bigger in Texas; even the idiots.

December 13, 2008 4:15 AM

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Parting

@zonk7ate9: I heard this expression on Europe, using USA in general... And a nuthouse...

(I'm sure there a lot of versions of this expression, just an observation, not trying to offend anyone.)

December 12, 2008 5:43 PM

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Chip Skylark of Space

@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: 'cuz they're stoopid, they shoot trick or treaters, and have the death penalty, right?

December 12, 2008 8:22 PM

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woogychuck

@SteverMan:
Exactly! Though I would say ignorant more so than stupid. People are born stupid, ignorance takes effort.

December 12, 2008 4:12 PM

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UnicornMaster

Probably a Texas conservative fighting back against socialism.

December 12, 2008 8:10 PM

11 replies

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AustinTXProgrammer

@DeanOfAllTrades: I went to the science and technology magnet school in AISD (Austin, the district in the article). We had entire computer labs running Linux and servers donated by IBM running AIX.

We all knew about Linux and the teachers were part of the evangelism.

I am a staunch political conservative, but I am also an open source evangelist. Austin is the most liberal city in Texas and voted over 70% for Obama.

Next time keep your misconceptions to yourself.

December 12, 2008 8:45 PM

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proskills

@AustinTXProgrammer: You are not allowed to be both conservative and support the Open source movement. That would be like saying that I am a staunch Christian, but I also support the Church of Atheism.

December 13, 2008 5:40 AM

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sinfonian94

@proskills: OK... after blasting sir pantsalot for ignorance, I have to repeat the same thing to you.... how the hell does being conservative mean not supporting open source?!

December 12, 2008 8:56 PM

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rushevents

@proskills: \"You are not allowed to be both conservative and support the Open source movement.\" (?)

That has got to be the dumbest statement I've read in years.

Who's bias is showing now?

Not mine - I use a lot of linux stuff everyday and even use open office on my own personal PC.

December 12, 2008 6:23 PM

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Nighthawke

@DeanOfAllTrades:
Being conservative does not mean I am living in a cave. I'm an advocate of OSS and progressive policies of education in alternative system languages.

Living in Texas does not mean I'm from Texas either. Some of their laws and policies really grate on my nerves.

December 12, 2008 4:51 PM

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cornish

@DeanOfAllTrades: The Austin Independent School District has a policy against hiring conservatives. In fact, for the most part they aren't allowed within the city limits.

December 12, 2008 8:55 PM

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varro

@cornish: Yeah, but when they slip up, they slip up something fierce, like Chimpy and his family...

December 12, 2008 4:26 PM

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sir_pantsalot

@DeanOfAllTrades: Since she is a teacher she is probably a liberal and anything free can't be taxed so she is therefore against it.

December 13, 2008 5:02 PM

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ninjatoddler

@sir_pantsalot: Not true. I've known plenty of teachers who are politically conservative.

However, the teacher here does strike me as a socially conservative type (ie. afraid of change) who doesn't want to introduce new ideas to her students. Very typical of those types of people.

December 13, 2008 5:37 AM

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sinfonian94

@sir_pantsalot: How does being a teacher make one a liberal? Speaking of ignorance....

December 12, 2008 4:52 PM

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usul356

@sir_pantsalot: Excellent point sir. Being from Texas myself this idiotic teacher annoys me to no end. Especially since I like all things open source.

December 12, 2008 4:47 PM

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EBounding

@sir_pantsalot: Yes. From the article:

\"Then again, being a good NEA member, you would spout the Union line. Microsoft has pumped tens of millions of dollars into your union. Of course you are going to 'recommend\" Microsoft Windows'. To do otherwise would probably get you reprimanded at the least and fired at the worst. You are only doing what you've been instructed to do.\"

December 12, 2008 4:20 PM

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tc4b

@DeanOfAllTrades: Sounds like an entitlement program if I ever heard of one, gull dern it!

December 12, 2008 4:13 PM

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friendlynerd

Apparently this teacher has never heard of Google because if she had taken 30 seconds to look it up she would know she's dead-ass wrong

December 14, 2008 11:19 PM

7 replies

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EyeintheLAsky

@friendlynerd:

but that would mean the 'teacher' would have to put her hands on - and USE - the \"devils machine\"

...can't have that, now, can we?

Next thing ya know...she'd be wanting breast implants, french-tipped nails, a day at the spa and a charge-account!

December 12, 2008 8:41 PM

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xthexlanternx

@mcreigh:

There's a bully in the park and a hero in my baseball bat.

December 12, 2008 6:44 PM

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magic8ball

@friendlynerd: I am far from being a geek (MA in English, actually) but even I've heard of Linux and know what OSS means. This woman must be living under a rock - I'm not sure Google can help.

December 12, 2008 5:38 PM

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swedub

@friendlynerd: When I did a search for 'helios' I couldn't find one link in the first page of results that was for the linux distribution. Search results are regional and sometimes tailored to individual user search history so results may vary.

[www.google.com] <-- a search for 'helios'

A search for 'helois linux' is much more relevant of course. Apparently she doesn't seem too technically minded so perhaps advanced two word searching might be foreign to her.

December 12, 2008 4:18 PM

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headhot

Google is a trap! How could there be a company that tells you how to find things for free!

@friendlynerd:

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ojzitro

Google is for the curious, teachers prefer being right at will.@friendlynerd:

December 13, 2008 1:34 AM

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ShariC

@ojzitro: Most people prefer being right. I wouldn't go tarring all teachers with the same brush just because of the ignorant actions of a small minority (or an individual).

December 12, 2008 4:14 PM

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pockygt

lol what?

December 12, 2008 4:14 PM

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TakingItSeriously is a Technopile

\"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.\"

Gee imagine that. The teacher will pursue charges rather than actually try to teach the students why this is wrong ... I think that statement is what sickens me, and I think this teacher should be fired for having the wrong attitude.

December 12, 2008 8:19 PM

6 replies

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Optimus

@serreca:

Simultaneously insulting and using a real-world, well-known example of \"takes one to know one.\" I love it.

I was IT for a very short time, and, yes, that is typically how we are. I was not, and I believe it is because I only worked for a very short time in the field. What happens is very similar to what I expect happens in the teaching profession. We start out loving the profession and doing a great job, but the constant wear of both regulations and people who never learn breaks our spirit until we are \"arrogant, nerdy, [and] look down on others who don't know everything about IT like [we] do...\" or, in a teacher's case, until they are \"[arrogant], always think[ing] they're right...\"

Needless to say, I try my best to solve my IT problems without their help, so as to save them time for those people who never learn.

December 12, 2008 8:32 PM

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Optimus

@Optimus: Why did my comment end up here?

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December 12, 2008 4:28 PM

@TakingItSeriously: \"Gee imagine that. The teacher will pursue charges rather than actually try to teach the students why this is wrong \"

What's that supposed to mean? This is one teacher out of hundreds of thousands. Sounds like you are lumping all of them in the same intelligence group as her. A little unfair, don't you think?

December 12, 2008 8:59 PM

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varro

@downwithmonstercable: The problem is that teachers (and cops) can make someone's life a living hell, and have inordinate (and often unchecked) power to make stupidity law.

I realize that the vast majority of teachers and cops have good heads on their shoulders, but all it takes is to run into a shitty one to cause a ton of problems.

December 15, 2008 3:13 AM

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Coelacanth

@TakingItSeriously: Alarmingly ignorant as the teacher's reaction was, at least the teacher was willing to research the matter before involving the authorities.

People make mistakes, and I hope the teacher in question had enough integrity to admit their error.

December 12, 2008 5:23 PM

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Absent minded or just absent

@downwithmonstercable: Much less unfair than not reading the last sentence which makes it painfully obvious that TIS is talking about a single teacher and not generalizing.

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December 12, 2008 7:45 PM

@Absent minded or just absent: Read Murph1908's response. That's what I was talking about. It's painfully obvious you didn't read what I wrote correctly.

December 12, 2008 6:40 PM

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Murph1908

@Absent minded or just absent:
I think the \"Gee, imagine that\" implies he is generalizing about teachers, even though he singles this one out for termination at the end.

It IS painfully obvious, but in the opposite direction than which you claim.

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Murph1908

@TakingItSeriously:
I didn't see where that was the only course of action she was going to take.

December 12, 2008 4:14 PM

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crashedpc

Well, after jumping to the second link it seems like the teacher was educated herself by the blogger. Won't mean that these things will keep happening, but at least in this case it's been quelled.

December 12, 2008 5:05 PM

2 replies

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friendlynerd

@crashedpc:
It would have taken less time to find out what the story was about Linux and open source on Google than it would have taken to pound out that ignorant letter.

That said, I'm glad she wasn't personally identified, nobody deserves that.

December 12, 2008 5:23 PM

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crashedpc

@friendlynerd: Agreed. Holding back knee jerk responses would have helped immensely.

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thebluepill

Wow... I would LOVE to see the reaction when the teacher finds out she is wrong.

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mcreigh

This makes me want to act out. Meet me by the bike racks at 3:15.

1 replies

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mpacuk

@mcreigh: I have soccer practice, and then I have to see the dermatologist. Can we meet tomorrow during recess?

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concordia

Give unto Ozzie that which is Ozzie's, give unto Linus that which is Linus'.

December 12, 2008 4:18 PM

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quagmire0

And now she gets the public chiding she deserves - courtesy: Consumerist.com! :D

December 12, 2008 5:00 PM

2 replies

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tmlfan81

@quagmire0: Actually, if you read both links (which takes about ten minutes if you want to pay attention) it seems that it was originally shared over at Slashdot and all hell broke loose after that.

December 12, 2008 7:17 PM

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quagmire0

@tmlfan81: Ouch. Sorry for being so careless reading an internet blog post and not clicking all the links and doing some extensive research before placing my unimportant comment on this public forum. :)

While it may be true that slashdot already covered the story and there was a backlash then. You may want to step back and realize that not everyone reads slashdot and this may be the first time they've seen this story. Thus, there will be a 'Consumerist effect', despite your best effort to discredit it.

December 13, 2008 10:46 PM

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bwcbwc

@quagmire0: FWIW more people read Slashdot than Consumerist.

December 12, 2008 8:11 PM

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tmlfan81

@quagmire0: Wow, what a terrible response. I guess I discounted the asshole effect as well.

December 12, 2008 4:18 PM

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Jakuub

I've no supporting evidence either way, but I would not be suprised if this whole thing was a publicity Stunt for HeliOS (see: paypal links for donating to HeliOS on the linked blog)

December 13, 2008 1:46 AM

3 replies

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ShariC

@Jakuub: You don't know, but you choose to believe this is a stunt? People who go around donating computers to kids and giving away free software are obviously devious and untrustworthy so I can see where your might reach the worst possible conclusion about them when you have \"no supporting evidence either way.\" :-p

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What The Geek

@Jakuub: yea..... except every linux distro has donate links all over every site they operate.... you know, because they're giving the product away for free.

December 12, 2008 5:10 PM

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Jakuub

@What The Geek: I'll give you that, but at the same time, wouldn't they benefit from all the traffic generated by this? I'm not trying to make accusations, just saying that there's a chance this isn't totally legit; by the time we're hearing the story, it's been told at least twice - from the student in question, to the blog author, and then from the author to us. Any of those tellings, or other ones in between, if the student didn't email the blog author directly, could have been the source of embellishment/ wholesale fiction.

December 12, 2008 4:19 PM

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mcreigh

The best line: \"Mr. Starks, I along with many others tried Linux during college...\"

December 12, 2008 7:13 PM

5 replies

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drjayphd

@mcreigh: To be fair, who amongst us didn't experiment with alternate OS's in college? Let's just hope the pictures don't get out...

December 12, 2008 5:25 PM

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samurailynn

@mcreigh: I tried Linux in college... it was a gateway to more hardcore OS's like FreeBSD.

December 12, 2008 6:31 PM

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lannister80

@samurailynn: I'm currently addicted to SlackWare and Debian! The most hardcore of all! /overdose

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SynMonger

@mcreigh: \"...but we didn't inhale!\"

December 12, 2008 4:56 PM

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brokebackwallet

@SynMonger: Priceless.

Your comment almost destroyed my 24\" display and keyboard.

Note to self: do not read possibly humorous material while being a nerd on friday with a mouthful of beer.

December 12, 2008 4:20 PM

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310Drew

and this is why our nation is falling behind. Teachers like this.

December 12, 2008 4:21 PM

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xwildebeestx

Nobody has ever accused teachers of being smart.

I hope she spends years digging through every resource she can, trying in vain to bring these marauders to justice. Seems like a pretty good use of her valuable time.

3 replies

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tc4b

@xwildebeestx: \"Nobody has ever accused teachers of being smart.\"

I'm sorry you made it through however much schooling you had without a teacher you admired, and I'm not being sarcastic.

But that line is so lame, you can use a few bad examples to slime any profession you want.

1) Find an idiot (easy enough to do)

2) Find what he/she does for a living

3) Insult entire profession

Like so:

1) George W. Bush

2) President

3) Presidents is stoopid! Hyuh hyuh!

December 12, 2008 4:31 PM

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xwildebeestx

@tc4b: I would have to say that this teacher is hardly the exception to the rule.

Try to teach a teacher something, then get back to me.

December 12, 2008 5:28 PM

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eyemandy

@xwildebeestx: Being stupid and being uneducated in a particular field/subject are two entirely different things. I suppose I could call you stupid because there's one or two things you may not know everything about and/or do perfectly, but that would make me stupid.

December 13, 2008 12:35 AM

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FLEB

@eyemandy: \"Uneducated\" would have stopped at not knowing. \"Stupid\" started up in full force about the time that she started taking discs and making accusations of lawbreaking.

December 12, 2008 4:46 PM

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tc4b

@xwildebeestx:

\"Try to teach a teacher something, then get back to me.\"

BTW, if you follow the second link, the teacher in question does admit to being wrong to having learned a lot about technology as a result.

December 12, 2008 5:18 PM

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amuro98

@tc4b:

But wasn't she supposed to be teaching a class on computers/technology/programming in the first place??

Then again, I went to high school in Detroit, where the city required all students to take a class on computer proficiency so you'd know a little about word processors, database, etc. However most schools didn't have computers, much less a computer literate teacher. Many of my friends attended the class taught by a bored Phys. Ed. teacher who would draw a rectangle on the board and say \"This is your monitor...\"

December 12, 2008 4:42 PM

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tc4b

@xwildebeestx: I am a teacher, I work with teachers, and every one of us, in my district anyhow, pursues at least some professional development every year. We are constantly learning. Last year, I attended seminars on math pedagogy, autism, and one on recent brain research that blew me away.

PEOPLE are ignorant, and some people are teachers. No matter what your profession, there are ignorant people practicing it.

As part of my position here, I have, in fact, taught things to many teachers.

December 12, 2008 5:27 PM

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johnva

@tc4b: I don't think ALL teachers are dumb. BUT, I have to admit that there are a lot of stupid people who are K-12 teachers and administrators. I think there is enough of a concentration of stupid in the schools that many smarter people are now repelled by the profession. The mind-numbing stupidity of most of the people who were in the education program at my university (professors included) was enough to put me off from it, for sure. I wouldn't want to be around those people and work with them every day.

December 12, 2008 5:32 PM

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xwildebeestx

@johnva: It's institutionalized complacency that's the real problem in the profession. Hanging and barely getting by for 20 or 30 years so you can retire with a pension shouldn't be what attracts people to education. It should be the desire to make the future better.
When people say that teacher salaries need to be increased to attract smarter people to the profession, they forget that more money would attract more people, not smarter people, specifically.

December 12, 2008 5:50 PM

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johnva

@xwildebeestx: I agree; I don't believe that more money would make for smarter teachers, by itself. And yes, not everyone chooses a career based on the maximum prospects for making money. But it might lead to a bigger pool of people from which to pick the smarter, more competent job candidates. You would still need some sort of good screening process based on merit.

And yes, I think complacency is part of the problem. But I have to stand by my statement that I think there are more stupid people in education than in many other professional fields. I've never encountered so many idiots concentrated in one place anywhere else. Maybe the toxic institutional environment/culture of the schools attracts a mix of people who either a) really are passionate about teaching, and thus are willing to overlook the problems, and b) people who are too stupid to steer clear. At least that's my theory.

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xwildebeestx

@xwildebeestx: In the interest of full disclosure, I work in the IT department of a K-8 school district. I'm pretty familiar with the subject matter.

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dragonfire81

Theory: This teacher, or someone she has close ties to, works for Microsoft.

December 12, 2008 4:31 PM

2 replies

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concordia

@dragonfire81: For what it's worth, her letter is signed with \"AISD,\" the Austin Independent School District. Microsoft had a big push a few months ago for a call center that they operated there. It's possible someone she knows works there.

December 12, 2008 9:07 PM

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TechnoDestructo

@concordia:

That is such an unfortunate name, especially when you're dealing with kids. You KNOW they're going to make fun of it.

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Nate425

I work in a school system and I know SEVERAL completely ignorant teachers, who believe they are always right, and anyone trying to convince them differently is an idiot.

I wish they would fire teachers like this, it only makes our kids grow up to be more stupid than they already are.

December 13, 2008 10:48 PM

2 replies

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bwcbwc

@Nate425: No one so dangerous as the incompetent who is also incompetent to recognize their own incompetence. A \"meta-incompetent\", if you will.

December 13, 2008 11:00 PM

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bwcbwc

@bwcbwc: Actually, since this teacher eventually got her head around the idea of free software, I can't put her in the category of those who can't be convinced they are wrong. So no \"meta-incompetence\" here. And unless the teacher works in the media center or is a computer geek, this stuff isn't exactly her area of expertise. So I think \"trainable\" is a better word for the current situation.

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)

Boy, if I was that kids MOTHER... no one calls my kid a liar and steals whats rightfully theirs. Woman must of fallen from the highest branch of the stupid tree and got hit with stupid all the way down. I hate when people do things without THINKING first. \"Gee, on the off chance this child was telling the truth...\"

I will still be fuming about this at 2:00pm this afternoon when I have parent-teacher conferences about my own kids.

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Murph1908

Misinformed? Sure. Its easy for us who read and posts to blogs to know about Linux and its story.

But not everyone knows this. This is made evident by the fact that Ben felt it necessary to inform us, the reader, \"Linux is a free and open-source operating system, it's meant to be passed around without cost\"

Going of half-cocked? Sure. She could have done some research before sending off the email.

But how many of us have posted a quick comment to a post before even RTFA? It happens so often, we created an acronym for it.

This is humorous post about a teacher who got caught up in the anti-piracy movement, and leaped before she looked. It's nothing to get our panties in a bunch over.

December 12, 2008 4:29 PM

2 replies

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crashedpc

@Murph1908: I don't see many people responding to the SECOND link, in which the blogger was called by the teacher and they talked it over.

December 12, 2008 4:46 PM

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)

@crashedpc: I read them all, but it's still appalling the conclusions she came to without a simple phone call, and the letter she was all too eager to type without verifying facts. I'm glad they understand eachother now but the fact remains, none of this would of happened if she picked up a PHONE to call this man in the first place.

December 13, 2008 10:57 PM

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bwcbwc

@verucalise: Not to mention confiscating the student's personal property with no appropriate authority (unless there actually is a school policy against otherwise legal software distribution due to virus/spyware concerns). If the student's family feels like \"taking legal action\" after they (or their lawyer) do some research, teacher could lose her job.

However, everyone seems to have kissed and made up. So looks like teacher learns the meaning of \"flamewar\", and with luck she'll tone down her rhetoric until AFTER she does her research next time.

If she had done her research beforehand, and it turned out that the student was being scammed into distributing pirated or infected software, we would have been cheering her. The order of steps in a process is so important. You have to mix the cake ingredients BEFORE you cook them.

December 12, 2008 5:31 PM

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johnva

@verucalise: That's what bothers me the most about it. I'm not bothered by the fact that the teacher didn't know much about Linux or the surrounding issues; that's not her job, really. What I'm bothered by is her lack of ability and/or desire to investigate things she didn't know about before taking out her ignorant views on kids. But I guess if you're a generally ignorant person, you don't known enough to know that you're ignorant.

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December 12, 2008 7:51 PM

@johnva: But when you think about software piracy these days, and you see someone passing out burned copies of software, I think you would probably assume they're doing it illegally. Plus, CD burners have been basically associated with illegal software copying and making copies of CDs. Anytime I see someone burning a CD or handing a burned CD to someone, I assume it's probably a program or a bunch of MP3s.

December 14, 2008 3:34 PM

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BattistaKligmanic

@downwithmonstercable:

You do know what happen you you \"assume\"?

December 12, 2008 8:52 PM

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johnva

@downwithmonstercable: That sounds like a personal problem.

December 12, 2008 5:22 PM

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serreca

@verucalise: In all fairness, the way schools operate these days, I would have done the same thing. My husband is a teacher and ANY hint impropriety happening in his room lands him in a huge shitstorm. Better to cut it off at the pass on the chance that it's not something that should be going on on school property, than deal with irate parents/administrators later and possibly lose your job. At least that's my opinion. Contrary to popular belief, your rights to privacy and free speech do not extend onto school grounds if you are violating school rules.

Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★

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December 12, 2008 4:28 PM

\"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 reminds me of a lady who called in to complain about Opie and Anthony the other day because they were talking about \"Call in Gay Day\" or \"A Day w/o Gays\". She took the time to call and complain as well as fire off letters, and chastised O&A for doing something which \"offends everyone\". They called her back, and even after it only taking ten seconds to look it up on Google and realize it was a campaign by Gay Rights Activists, she refused to apologize.

December 12, 2008 11:32 PM

2 replies

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Span_Wolf

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: Oh I just love obstinate idiots that would rather tell the rest of the world that they are the only person right than admit to being wrong even when they flat out know they are.

December 12, 2008 9:52 PM

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Rectilinear Propagation

She took the time to call and complain as well as fire off letters, and chastised O&A for doing something which \"offends everyone\".

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy->★: The same Opie and Anthony who had a guy on talking about how he wanted to rape Condelezza Rice? I thought it was their job to offend everyone...

December 12, 2008 4:30 PM

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darkryd

They have teachers in Texas?

That's so cute!

December 12, 2008 5:17 PM

2 replies

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xwildebeestx

@darkryd: I thought they executed retards in Texas. Never figured they'd give one a degree and a teaching cert.

/g'hyuk.

December 12, 2008 5:00 PM

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SinisterMatt

@darkryd:

Ha, LOL, and we have cars and cities and everything too! Imagine that!

/sarcasm

Cheers!

December 12, 2008 4:33 PM

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SynMonger

This has already played out: [linuxlock.blogspot.com]

He's talked with her, and is installing linux for her on Saturday :)

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wildness

The fact that this was in Texas shouldn't surprise anyone.

December 12, 2008 5:23 PM

1 replies

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BluePlastic

@wildness: Yeah there are no stupid people in YOUR state or anywhere else.

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Corporate-Shill

The guys and gals working on Linux may be nice enough to donate their time, but that time has value.

December 12, 2008 4:36 PM

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ClutchDude

AISD? Hmmm....That doesn't narrow it down. My thoughts is that she is tweaked and possibly been charged with teaching certain requirements. Coupled with a teacher who got fired because of a porn pop-up that had no abiltiy to be controlled.....yeah.

She overreacted to something that needed a reaction. I'm guilty of that for sure and, if I was ignorant of what I was reacting to, overreact ignorantly.

Anyways, be sure to read the second link. It really helps bring issue to being settled.

December 12, 2008 4:38 PM

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moore850

1. raise salaries for teachers so you can attract smarter ones.
2. fire anyone that fails a monthly common-sense quiz with questions on it like \" Does software exist that is free to distribute? \"
3. Wait 20 years for the brightest minds ever to emerge from school.
4. Hire them.
5. Profit!

December 12, 2008 4:38 PM

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se7a7n7

LINUX guy, you are charged with giving free computers with a crappy FREE operating system that hates the very children that use it.

HOW DO YOU PLEAD?

December 12, 2008 4:39 PM

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The_IT_Crone

This depresses me because it would be the FIRST teacher I've ever heard of actually caring about copyright/etc.

I became ostracized at one point when I refused to pirate MS Office on all the computers in the building- a direct order from the principal. Ironically, Open Office is free so it really applies here.

/worked in public schools for 6 years, higher ed for 3

December 12, 2008 6:23 PM

3 replies

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katylostherart

@The_IT_Crone: i'm more depressed that knowledge is so strictly controlled and profitability by a company is more important than accessibility by all.

December 12, 2008 5:13 PM

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xwildebeestx

@The_IT_Crone: Or the constant requests to install copies of district-owned software on personal computers.

Or the outrage when they're informed they can't bring their laptops in from home and have them connected to our network.

Or the disbelief that you won't crack their personal box open and poke around inside during work hours.

Wait, that last one sounded a little odd for some reason...

December 12, 2008 4:40 PM

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The_IT_Crone

@The_IT_Crone: Oh I can't believe I almost forgot to mention all the teachers/media specialists/principals/parents that wouldn't listen that they couldn't scan and post to the web everything they could get their grubby hands on.

More than a few times we'd get cease and desists from the COPYRIGHT OWNERS who didn't like it.

December 12, 2008 4:41 PM

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se7a7n7

She ends the letter saying

\"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...\"

Yes, because Microsoft is all about giving away Windows.

December 12, 2008 5:14 PM

1 replies

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xwildebeestx

@se7a7n7: And what kid wouldn't beam with glee when handed a free copy of Windows ME to do with whatever they pleased!?

December 12, 2008 4:42 PM

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Chols

Best quote seen on consumerist...

\"This concept makes people's heads explode, and then they go on to teach our kids.\"

December 12, 2008 4:43 PM

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The_IT_Crone

@undefined: @xwildebeestx: Agreed a hundredfold. It looks like we had the same job at one point.

December 12, 2008 4:45 PM

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tc4b

I just read both posts in their entirety, and I'm glad I did. It's not as simple as it seems. After I did, I really can't sustain my righteous indignation at the teacher's behavior. Seems like the blogger and the teacher both learn at least a little.

December 12, 2008 4:47 PM

1 replies

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bastion72

@tc4b: Me too. Looks like both parties are better off because of this incident.

December 12, 2008 4:47 PM

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PixelProphet

facepalm.jpg

HeliOS should have their lawyer write her a nice little letter, and make her apologize for her lack of common computer knowledge.

December 12, 2008 5:07 PM

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spanky

I don't believe that story. It's pat and hamhanded, just like the other time this guy created some cartoonish villain to serve as a foil to his hero character. The \"teacher\" even has a very similar writing style.

And both times, he got lots of attention and probably lots of donations for his project. At this rate, expect our brave hero to confront his next astounding idiot by March.

December 12, 2008 5:08 PM

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EmperorOfCanada

In a world where people STILL fall for those Nigerian scams all the time, is it really so hard for some of you people to believe that one poor teacher could have been misinformed?

If my mother was a teacher I could see this happening, she barely knows how to check her email and surf the web.

I think this woman was probably well intentioned and just in this case, was wrong.

If this had been some pirated software or porn that had been confiscated, you would probably all be applauding her.

Just sayin.

December 12, 2008 5:09 PM

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xwildebeestx

@tc4b: After being publicly chastised and made an example of. She would have continued on her righteous path of justice had she just been left out of the spotlight.

December 12, 2008 5:30 PM

4 replies

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Darklighter

@xwildebeestx: I didn't realize K-8 IT departments could afford psychics and crystal balls.

December 12, 2008 5:20 PM

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serreca

@xwildebeestx: Since you're lumping all teachers into the \"stupid, always think they're right\" category, I'm lumping IT professionals into the \"arrogant, nerdy, look down on others who don't know everything about IT like they do\" group.

Ass.

December 12, 2008 8:33 PM

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Optimus

My comment magically appeared elsewhere in the thread. Repost:

@serreca: Simultaneously insulting and using a real-world, well-known example of \"takes one to know one.\" I love it.

I was IT for a very short time, and, yes, that is typically how we are. I was not, and I believe it is because I only worked for a very short time in the field. What happens is very similar to what I expect happens in the teaching profession. We start out loving the profession and doing a great job, but the constant wear of both regulations and people who never learn breaks our spirit until we are \"arrogant, nerdy, [and] look down on others who don't know everything about IT like [we] do...\" or, in a teacher's case, until they are \"[arrogant], always think[ing] they're right...\"

Needless to say, I try my best to solve my IT problems without their help, so as to save them time for those people who never learn.

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December 12, 2008 7:48 PM

@serreca: amen to that! This is the dumbest argument I've seen in a while.

Next, we'll hear that he/she was homeschooled because teachers can't provide a good education.

December 12, 2008 8:30 PM

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Optimus

@downwithmonstercable:
Funny you should mention homeschooling.

I plan to homeschool my children. I went to a high school with some of the best teachers in the profession. It was a Blue Ribbon school (top 250 nationally), and in Alabama, no less. But the administration at that school was full of some of the stupidest dictatorial politicians. And the other students were a combination of some of the brightest kids and some of the worst sexually-active druggies I'd ever met.

I just don't want to take the chance that those stupid politicians will arbitrarily choose to push *my* kids toward being druggie prostitutes like they did to so many of my friends.

December 12, 2008 5:10 PM

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Cyco

God I hate my state. I wish I could move.

December 12, 2008 5:21 PM

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Pixelantes Anonymous

Not knowing the extent of your ignorance is pretty common from ignorant people.

December 12, 2008 5:25 PM

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defectiveburger

*hugs my linux install disks*

December 12, 2008 5:28 PM

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xwildebeestx

@serreca: I can live with that, since my job isn't to teach kids with impressionable minds things like critical thinking skills.

December 12, 2008 5:28 PM

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bdgbill

As the original blogger points out, this woman has no clue about the tidal wave of Nerd Rage that is about to fall on her empty head. This story is everywhere and spreading fast. There is enough information in the original blog post tofigure out which school she works at. I would guess they are getting phone calls already.

The blogger has the opinion that the teacher is towing the line fed to her by her union. I think there is a god chance this is true. She has been taught that any music or software that is on unlabeled CD's or DVD's must be pirated.

December 12, 2008 5:30 PM

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Fist-o�

I don't think this is true or ever happened. Seems contrived.

December 12, 2008 5:52 PM

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Canino

I've worked several jobs dealing with end users and found that most people who sit in front of a computer all day don't know the first thing about them. They just type what they've been told to type into the blanks on the screen and that's it. If you go to their house and look at their personal machine, you'll find the default Windows background and an unused AOL Internet icon on their desktop that was there the first time they turned on the machine. Couple that with a slight misinterpretation of those radio commercials for the anti-piracy foundation (or whatever it is) and this is the result.

December 12, 2008 5:59 PM

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y2julio

y2julio$:su
password:
y2julio#: apt-get remove stupid teacher
y2julio#: apt-get install smart teacher
y2julio#: exit
y2julio$

December 12, 2008 8:34 PM

4 replies

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howie_in_az

@y2julio: All the cool kids are using sudo these days.

December 12, 2008 8:59 PM

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y2julio

@howie_in_az: I'm so used to typing su out. I know I should use sudo instead of logging into root.

December 12, 2008 6:12 PM

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ichiban1081

@y2julio: I tried that and its not in my repositories. Got deb?

December 12, 2008 6:15 PM

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y2julio

@ichiban1081: I see your problem. You have NYC DOE repositories setup. smart teacher is not an available package on it. :p

December 12, 2008 6:03 PM

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katylostherart

why did he have to apologize to an idiot? she was a dick with the legal threats, completely in the wrong, and HE had to apologize at all? why are people like that even allowed to speak let alone teach our kids?

December 12, 2008 6:11 PM

2 replies

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ichiban1081

@katylostherart: Agreed, just shows how \"educated\" this \"Teacher\" really is. Some quick research would have shed some light on the confiscated disk. Oh well back to linux mint I go...

December 12, 2008 6:17 PM

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y2julio

@ichiban1081: Don't do it mann!!!! Think of your children! Say no to Linux! MSFT is the light.

December 12, 2008 6:05 PM

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Dillenger69

Software is only free if your time is worthless.

December 12, 2008 6:34 PM

1 replies

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johnva

@Dillenger69: And you think that Windows takes less time to deal with? I disagree.

December 12, 2008 6:19 PM

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rpm773

The kid also got his Linux discs back after class....

...Then he and some other kids went under the bleachers and smoked pot.

December 12, 2008 6:26 PM

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RurouniX

All I have to say about Ken Starks' response is \"SNNNAP.\" An eloquently written retort and verbal B* slap without resorting to name calling or anything like that.
Way to take the high road. I personally don't use Linux but I do realize its superiority...I'm just too lazy.

December 12, 2008 6:41 PM

1 replies

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RurouniX

@RurouniX: Also I believe the teacher was out of line. It was perfectly within her rights to take action IF she suspected one of her students was involved in any illegal activity and I don't fault her for that. Any teacher should take action of she things her students are doing wrong.

But beyond that she was forcing her own opinions on her students. MS products are \"obviously\" the best out there? That is a quite the unsubstantiated statement.

And regarding Ken's response, I don't think HE was out of line either...because what he said is true and accurate. Most of the world still relies on Microsoft Windows - an inferior operating system by any comparison...once again...I'm saying that as someone who uses Windows both at work and at home.

December 12, 2008 6:30 PM

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HotTubber

Here's the rest of the story: [linuxlock.blogspot.com]

December 12, 2008 6:37 PM

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ecwis

\"The most disturbing part of this resides in the fact that the AISD purchases millions of dollars of Microsoft Software in a year's time when that money could be better spent on educating our children.\"

This is my favorite line. I never really thought about how much schools must waste on Microsoft software, especially since students would be happy with whatever they're given...

December 12, 2008 7:00 PM

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valthun

While the teacher was obviously ignorant, the response back was very bitter and ignorant as well. I do have a Linux distro that can boot from a CD, it helps when I am having issues with a PC even booting, it helps me to know if it is an OS issue or a hardware issue. However that being said, I am a gamer, and Linux pales in usability when I want to get my game on with the PC. While some developers may release titles for Linux, it is a very small percentage of AAA titles, and even then it could take more than a year for release.
I am all for Linux, Mac, and Windows to be in the same world together, I just can't stand disciples of either side of the camp, because they spew hate and misinformation about the ones they don't support. Hmm, similar to those of extreme religious views.

December 12, 2008 7:12 PM

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Petra

I'm really glad they actually discussed the incident together and the kid got his disks back.

But what's funny is that she wouldn't have been able to \"pursue charges\" anyways... That'd be like me trying to sue another kid from school for having a pirated copy of some CD on his harddrive. I mean, sure, I could alert the company that owns the music, but I couldn't personally sue him!

December 12, 2008 7:19 PM

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3drage

Burn!

And kudos to the response, it was well though out and unlike the vicious and ignorant original letter it was actually backed by truth.

December 12, 2008 7:24 PM

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justsomereportingguy

OK. No one is at fault here and everyone is at fault here.
We are all very proud of our OS/software choice and many of us take that pride to an extreme level. The teacher acted on a knee-jerk response to protect the children in her class and did so without doing the proper research. She was wrong in how she handled the situation but right in her desire to protect her kids. The blogger acted on an almost identical knee-jerk response. He wanted to protect his 'children' (the PC's (and disks) he works so hard to put into the hands of kids). He was wrong to let his emotions guide his response to her letter. He was also right to scold a 'person of education' (I think we expect teachers to be smarter than most of us) for her actions.
Let's all remember a few things...
1) no OS will ever be absolute, there will ALWAYS be someone (prob many) out there that just wont agree with you on OS choice no matter how convincing your argument. That is their right.
2) You will always catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Allowing our emotions to control our response to someone (no matter how infuriating they may be) only brings us down a notch and does nothing to promote our beliefs. In fact it works against promotion of said beliefs. Take a breath, walk around the block, do whatever and then you can create a solid, positive, non emotional response that will help to promote your beliefs.
It is the things about us that are different that make us interesting to each other.

December 12, 2008 7:34 PM

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mythago

@xwildebeestx: No, after talking to the original poster and straightening him out on a few things, and having a dialogue with him. You clearly didn't bother to read any further than the headline, which puts you far below this teacher on the competence scale.

December 12, 2008 8:04 PM

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freelunch

can't blame her.... a bunch of middleschool kids gathered around a boy with a laptop = suspicious... kid handing out CDs of something he says an adult gave him = scary...

I don't expect a middle school teacher to be skilled in technology - as it is the IT departments are some of the most underpaid IT teams there are.

December 12, 2008 8:07 PM

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Juan Mendes

So, the teacher didn't understand that Linux is free and thought the students were pirating software? At first, I really wanted to blast the teacher but by the end I realized he was just misinformed and filled with righteous indignation. Almost off-topic, did anybody here know that the Brazilian government has switched to free software? At least Linux and OpenOffice.

Peace.

December 12, 2008 8:13 PM

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allnitecp

One of my favorite quotes, who I am unable to attribute to an exact source, is this:

'Those who Can, Do. Those who Cannot, Teach.'

December 12, 2008 8:41 PM

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metalmarious

well there is one redneck who needs to get a clue,

December 12, 2008 9:46 PM

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Anonymous

See what happens when you let the government do anything, including teach your kids?

Not only do the students become a bunch of mindless drones, but so is the second generation of the teachers as well.

If teachers were held responsible for their competence/incompetence, then things like this wouldn't happen. Nope, tenure forces us to keep idiots like this. It's the NEA in action. Unions suck.

December 12, 2008 10:37 PM

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grimdeath9740

I have grown up and graduated school in North Texas, I can honestly say that the computer departments of MANY of the schools here (though also other states im sure) is SEVERELY LACKING in both hardware and knowledge of those teaching.

Having been one of the few kids that actually got into computers, software, design and art in the area I was forced into classes where we were learning from outdated software on unstable aging windows based computers. The teachers themselves were a joke, basically reading out of books with no real knowledge of what they were teaching. Questions would be met with \"um...look in the back of the book\".

Now I understand schools do not have a ton of money at their disposal but let me also explain that during my 4 years of high school the school built: A huge new gym to go along with the 2-3 they already had, a new wing that looked nice but only contained 4 classrooms, an updated cafeteria, and pumped money into the play fields of the football, track and other sports. Meanwhile NONE of my classes saw new schoolbooks, computers, or really anything else. My psychology book was from circa 1975!

Again, I know schools have limited funds but still...how many kids really do you think went on to become professional sports players instead of a field that utilized computers, the internet, and anything of that nature? Yea puts things into perspective :/

December 13, 2008 10:03 PM

1 replies

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metalmarious

@grimdeath9740: My school, in MN, had iMac G3's (they had just come out), now looking back I think It would have been wiser if they had linux computers (with free OS'es) instead of macs (that was the only time I ever used macs in my life)

It does seem that linux is a smarter choice for schools

December 12, 2008 11:33 PM

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Imakeholesinu

HEY TEACHER! LEAVE THAT KID ALONE!!!

December 13, 2008 4:11 AM

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Parting

And this idiot is teaching someone? Sad day for those kids. Or maybe this teacher never heard about the concept of ''donating your time'' or a ''hobby''.

(I have a pal modding for several different games. Legally and for free. For fun. And for other player's fun. I'm sure this teacher would arrest him.)

December 13, 2008 4:13 AM

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Parting

Ooohh! I just notice the picture. Verrry nice.

December 13, 2008 4:13 AM

1 replies

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Parting

@Meltdown: noticed

December 13, 2008 7:46 AM

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Bog

Ha-ha.. Out computer at work don't run no wimpy Windows or sissy Linux. MVS/JES2 and Mainframes Forever!

December 14, 2008 12:29 AM

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GoVegan

Texas! Home of the Bush family!

December 14, 2008 1:10 AM

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atomic1fire

Its not news anymore,
the kid got his disks back,
the lady replied back asking why the dude fed her to the wolves,
he responded he neglected to give anyone else information about her, for her safety. they both got off on better terms.

December 14, 2008 11:37 AM

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muchenik

Really, I know we are supposed to let our children know that distribution of software without the proper authority is wrong. But I thought everyone knew that linux is free.

December 15, 2008 4:03 AM

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fergthecat

Shit, this is my school district. When I saw \"AISD\" I was hoping Abilene or Arlington or something.

December 15, 2008 3:26 PM

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Moonshadow101

I applaud the teacher. If some little proto-evangelical prick was trying to convert kids around me I'd have done the same thing.

1 replies

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HanleyBabar

March 5, 2009 7:34 PM

@Moonshadow101: No, you are. The kid, even if he didn't, was simply educating that you aren't chained up to Windows and there are choices.

December 16, 2008 8:53 PM

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GinoBabakin

I think she is referrring to the economic principle TINSTAFL \"there is no such thing as a free lunch\". It is a generic principle stating that everything costs something to produce and distribute even if you did not pay for it yourself. Therefore, even if you did not pay for your lunch, someone did and it is not \"free\".

Stupid thing to do, but maybe that was her premise?

December 17, 2008 1:54 AM

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dvdchris

Now Ken Starks went and installed Linux on her PCs and she has seen the light: [www.cooltidbits.net]