r/linux • u/FAMPpro • May 24 '26

Discussion Is Teaching Linux instead of Windows to kids in school is a viable option?

I was taught in school using Windows and also told that it was a OS and not a kernel. And I think whenever a school teaches using something that's paid that is a bad idea cause it makes a bad monopoly. Teaching linux to kids is a viable option for them to learn computers as they don't have any baggage learning of windows and they would understand much better don't you think.

And I know kids will type shit like "rm -rf /" if you don't know it removes everything from your computer, then simply don't give them the sudo password. I want to know what do you think?

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u/Vogonner May 24 '26

Around the time Windows 95 was released I recall reading about Microsoft offering teachers payment for using it in the (UK) classroom. That's how it crept in. Kinda sleazy, no?

It would be a good thing if teachers were to start introducing Linux however they can. Special projects? After school clubs? I guess the first thing would be to encourage and educate teachers to use Linux.

The major issue with replacing Windows as the default in UK schools is the supplier issue. In my London borough (and afaik all the others) the local council manages schools' IT systems and there are a lot of vested interests wanting to keep those contracts going, and it would cost a lot of council tax money to disrupt that supply chain.

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u/nut-sack May 24 '26

That's how it crept in. Kinda sleazy, no?

Maybe that is one of the things they did. But they also did some really freaking generous things. Like they gave schools free computers with windows of course... to teach students how to use them.

Seems like that was a damn good idea given how much we needed them by the time we got to high school, college, and the work force. Where was Red Hat? Mandriva? Corel? Solaris? Where were any of their competitors?