"Freedom matters"
Hi, I believe a clarification is needed for the mail from Mahesh T pai about IT Text books of kerala schools.
The text book is divided in to two sections, Windows and GNU/Linux. Windows section explains how to work in windows world and GNU/Linux explains how to work in GNU/Linux world. Microsoft Office is given in the windows section whereas Openoffice is given in GNU/Linux section and so on. The students,Teachers or School can choose either windows or GNU/Linux according to the facilities available. So it a choice of the schools.(Now its our duty to reach schools and bring them to GNU/Liunux world)
The Kochi Free Software User's group had submitted a memorandum against similar moves by the Kerala Govt. The memo was partly successful.
The authorities was totally unwilling to include GNU/Linux in the text book. Its not a single memorandum which made the change. A lot of work by several persons is there behind the change. A lot of persons and groups have contributed to the effort, the memorandum by FSUG Cochin is one among them.
the syllabus itself is not changed. But the text books have been re-written - I said - REWRITTEN, to include references to GNU/LINUX. GNU/LINUX, and nothing else. No references to applications like GIMP, or the concepts of free software.
The concepts of free software is included in the text. Text book of 8th std have two "boxes" dealing with the concept about free software, and includes "boxes" about RMS and Linus trovalds. The students are asked to collect information about free softwares as the part of "activities"
GIMP will be included in 10th std text book. In 8th std Xpaint is used for basic Graphic works. I too agrees that our work is not 100% success. There are issues yet to address But in the current situation in kerala its a big success.
They are now including OpenOffice.org in the Xth std textbooks.
Openoffice is included from the 8th std itself. The basic introduction is provided in 8th std, more features are given in 9th and some more in 10th.
I find that the text book committee is more interested in creating something like one of those 'for dummies' series books for proprietary software.
I don't know what forced him to make such a commend. Just go through the textbook, can we compare it with "for dummies series?"
The IT text book commitee members are most pro towards GNU/Linux. All of them are well aware of the facts. The have taken all the effort to include GNU/Linux in IT Text book. Its their effort which resulted in including GNU/Linux in IT Text book when all authorities above them are Pro Mircosoft and Anti GNU. The IT Textbook commitee of Kerala, (Headed by Pro. satyapalan SCERT) is trying their level best to bring GNU/Linux to kerala schools. Don't simply critisice them without considering actual facts.
-----------------Regards SajithVK-------------
_________________________________________________________________ Is India taking over the US? Find out here. http://server1.msn.co.in/features/nri03/index.asp Meet these new-age NRIs.