General Misconceptions

Recently I have thought quite a bit about developing a variation of Linux to improve classroom computing while cutting over $100 off the price of each computer by eliminating the cost of a proprietary operating system. This would obviously be a great lift for all school technology programs, but, as in everything, there will be skeptics. I would like to address some of the most common misconceptions that are brought up, not neccesarily about Linux but about the general usefullness of computers in education.

1) Computers are not helping education now and therefore further attempts are futile.
- Currently there are two computers in my English class - one for the teacher and another that students often use to print their homework if their own printer is out of order. That comes to a ratio of fifteen or twenty students to two computers, neither of which is used on a regular basis by anyone but the teacher. Imagine a class of fifteen to twenty students, all sharing two textbooks, two pencils, two pieces of paper... Would critics not state that textbooks, pencils, and paper are ineffective? Before we can fairly judge the helpfullness of computers for students we must have the computers.

2) Computers are too expensive for school budgets.
- Computers are not as expensive as they may seem. Free software like many variations of Linux cuts at least $100 off the cost, and using software like OpenOffice.org removes the price of Microsoft Word.

If you have other questions about weather or not computers are helpful to schools please add a comment to this post and I will try to respond.