this is my last post here

I have moved both physically (from Cameroon to Taiwan) and virtually (from Blogger to Wordpress).

My new virtual home is here. Its RSS feed is here. My "first" post is here.

Jonathan Kozol Hates Microsoft! - the epilogue

Some have inquired as to what happened regarding this story. Here are some facts that have unfolded since that post...

1. The school received a very large grant of money to be spent on technology shortly after the decision to move to free software was overturned. Part of this was spent on purchasing about two-dozen brand new computers equipped with Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Office, and other proprietary software packages. The grant came from the US State Department.

2. The director went on a professional development trip to South Africa and returned with some news. "We" had purchased school administration software that doesn't run on a free software platform (not even its client-side implementation). Neither the technical department nor the technology committee was asked for their input on this decision. In fact, the decision had been made by the time we heard the news.

3. The purchase of this school administration software was used as justification of the conversion back to Windows XP of the one and only free software lab (that took 2 years to establish) at the start of the upcoming school year. It seems unlikely that anything will happen to stop this.

4. With both sadness (I miss the students and community) yet relief, I chose not to renew my contract and sought a teaching position elsewhere.

malaysia pushes for free data

Read about it here. Until this decision becomes entrenched in the behavior of the state, it may be wise to remain cautiously pessimistic. It's amazing how quickly hopes can be crushed when Big Money is at stake. Nonetheless, I'm smiling.

free/open data supporters please sign

this petition.

not that we needed proof...

...but regularly plopping children in front of one-way "learning" videos rather than interactive real-world objects (or better yet, people) isn't the best strategy to counter one's busy schedule. Go figure.

picking the principled position on potter

I've heard two arguments why one should not buy Harry Potter books. One insane (but tempting if into the psychological manipulation of children), the other reasonable.

euphemizing belief's origin

A recent conversation with an Intelligent Design supporter produced the following snippet...

I ask, "Why do you believe in a creator? It's fear, no?"

"No." was the response.

"Then why do you believe?" I ask.

"It gives me comfort."