[Fsf-friends] Need Free software in 11th Class

[V. Sasi Kumar]

On Mon, 2005-08-22 at 09:37 -0700, Sarath Lakshman wrote:

> I am here to inform you about an issue in 11th Class.
> Now I am studying in 11th class - Computer Science.
> Our text book is following the proprietary C++
> compiler (Turbo C++ Compiler) and there is nothing
> about Software freedom and importance of free
> software.

Actually, the textbook only says C++. What compiler is to be used is
decided by the school, as far as I know. The syllabus was revised to
take into account the fact that students like you who joined the 11th
standard this year have already been trained in using computer
applications. The change is more visible in the syllabus for students of
Commerce and other subjects. However, Free Software as such has not made
an entry. This is because the revision was only superficial since it was
done at the last minute and there was no time to rewrite the textbooks.
Let us hope the government will change this at least next year.
Meanwhile, if the new IT@School GNU/Linux distribution becomes popular
in schools, there is every chance that many schools will naturally
switch over to gcc in the Plus 2 level.

The same problem will arise in the case of database also. Although the
textbook discusses only SQL, many schools may use proprietary versions
and not MySQL or PostgreSQL.

A more serious problem exists in the case of Commerce students, who have
to learn Visual Basic!

If your teachers are receptive, you can try to show them that gcc is the
best compiler available, and that it is Free. But they may want a
graphical interface.

Best
-- 
V. Sasi Kumar <sasi.fsf@gmail.com>
Free Software Foundation of India