Teacher takes bat-shit crazy to dizzying heights

[Tom]

Let us just say that we hate IM-speak and Webby abbreviations, but being that this is a family-friendly publication, a simple "WTF" will have to suffice for our reaction on this one.

Our minds are really blown by this:

A middle school teacher, Karen, had a mini-meltdown when she spotted a student showing off the capabilities of his Linux-powered laptop and handing out Linux discs provided by HeliOS, a organization dedicated to putting low-cost, Linux-powered PC in the hands of under-privileged children. She confiscated the CDs and set out to make sure the evil man behind this free software was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

When she landed on Ken Starks, founder of HeliOS, she sent him a tersely worded e-mail. Here are some of the absurd highlights:

"I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful."

"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."

"I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but putting Linux on these machines is holding our kids back."

"I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older version of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service to those receiving them..."

We know that many people out there are not aware of, or at least not well-educated about Linux, but to claim that there is no such thing as free software is so bone-headed that we strongly suggest this woman be stripped of her teaching license. Even Microsoft, the company she evangelizes for at the end of her e-mail, offers numerous free software packages.

Ken Starks did eventually get an apology from Karen after having a 45 minute conversation with her explaining (in more polite terms than we're capable of, we're sure) Linux and the Free Open Source Software (FOSS) movement. According to a post on Twitter she was "in awe." [From: Download Squad, HeliOS Blog]

[iembalm]

My instructor in Funeral Service told us, when we got to the modern technology part of the curriculum, that it would serve us well to keep abreast of current tech, because things change fast. For example, "It's not modems any more, now they have this 'e-mail.'"

And didn't I read a few days ago that math teachers are sometimes only a chapter or two ahead of the class? Sheesh.

[nick92675]

well, at least she was well intentioned. ignorant for sure - but i imagine it might be a fine distinction for a some kids to understand. is all software free? why do i get linux free and not windows? why do i have to pay to download some songs and not others? i don't think intellectual property is the first thing on most middle schoolers minds. when i was in middle school for sure i would have stolen everything i could have.

[Tom]

well, at least she was well intentioned. ignorant for sure - but i imagine it might be a fine distinction for a some kids to understand. is all software free? why do i get linux free and not windows? why do i have to pay to download some songs and not others? i don't think intellectual property is the first thing on most middle schoolers minds. when i was in middle school for sure i would have stolen everything i could have.

I think that was only part of her motivations. Here is a larger excerpt from her rant to the HeliOS dude...

..observed one of my students with a group of other children gathered around his laptop. Upon looking at his computer, I saw he was giving a demonstration of some sort. The student was showing the ability of the laptop and handing out Linux disks. After confiscating the disks I called a confrence with the student and that is how I came to discover you and your organization. Mr. Starks, I am sure you strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for guidance and discipline. 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. Mr. Starks, I along with many others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods. I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.

This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all. 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...

[Kayte]

Mr. Starks, I along with many others tried crack during college

[busbus]

I, I, I just don't get it.

I feel sorry for all students she has ever taught.

[shoe]

http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2008/12/character-assasinations-aint-us.html

"The student did get his Linux disks back after the class. The lad was being disruptive, but that wasn't mentioned. Neither was the obvious fact that when she saw a gaggle of giggling 8th grade boys gathered around a laptop, the last thing she expected to see on that screen was a spinning cube. She didn't know what was on those disks he was handing out. It could have been porn, viral .exe's...any number of things for all she knew. When she heard that an adult had given him some of the disks to hand out, her spidey-senses started tingling. Coupled with the fact that she truly was ignorant of honest-to-goodness free software, and you have some fairly impressive conclusion-jumping. In a couple of ways, I am guilty of it too."

Everyone should just read the whole story before jumping on the hate wagon..

[busbus]

Nah, I'm hating. If the teacher doesn't know the facts behind what she is spouting, then she should ask questions/research/anything else first before going all bat shit crazy. Did she really need to contact helios?