MichaelOlson quotes RichardStallman ¹ on why Free Software should be used in schools:
The third reason is even more fundamental. We want schools to teach facts and skill, of course, but also good moral character, which means being prepared to help other people. That means the school should say to the kids, “Any software that is here, you can copy it. Copy it and take it home. That is what it is here for. If you bring any software to school, you must share it with the other kids. If you are not willing to share it with the other kids, do not bring it here, it does not belong here, because we are teaching kids to be helpful to each other.” Education of moral character is important for every society. ²
Hehe, quite old material: 2003-04-21. 😄
I also liked the following rephrasing of the four freedoms – emphasis mine:
1. Freedom zero is the freedom to run the program for any purpose, in any way that you want to.
2. Freedom one is the freedom to *help yourself* by studying the source code to see what the program does and then changing it to suit your needs.
3. Freedom two is the freedom to *help your neighbor* by distributing copies to others.
4. And freedom three is the freedom to *help build your community* by publishing an improved version so others can use your version instead, so others can get the benefit of your help.
The wording I used was always founded on copyright law:
1. The freedom to use the software, for any purpose.
2. The freedom to copy the software.
3. The freedom to modify the software.
4. The freedom to distribute the software.
Not quite the same thing. 😄
#Copyright
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It basically read like a partial re-phrasing of the 4 freedoms, but for schools, which is why I quoted it. I like the idea of adapting the freedoms (well, giving relevant examples, really) for different contexts.
– Michael Olson 2006-05-27 17:13 UTC
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Well, the primary reason I copied that quote from your page was that I liked argument that schools should build “good moral character” – in these days the people in charge all too often believe that school is supposed to prepare you for a job. I often feel alone when I tell people how disappointed I was with university (even though I got excellent grades), and that the primary reason I suggest people study something anyway, is that having four years to yourself, a time you’re expected to be creative and learning. If you’re in a 100% job, with only a few weeks of holidays, and maybe family obligations, when will you develop into new directions, develop excellency in some area, discover new things about yourself? In that respect, university was great. Academic life, however, was a let-down, and my job nothing to do with my studies.
In this respect, the quote felt right: If good moral character is a goal, then the exact curriculum doesn’t really matter, as long as it suits your vocation.
The discovery about his phrasing of the four freedoms whas just an incidental discovery. ;)
– Alex Schroeder 2006-05-27 19:41 UTC