And here is an introduction to Linux in the classroom, with some interesting notes and comparisons of proprietary software compared with linux. And another interesting article about the exploding use of linux in Small and Medium sized Businesses (SMB) And here in Toronto, a company is using linux for POS (Point of Sale) in a big way. And a library using Koha,(koha.org) at U of T for child research, etc., in addition to the previous posts about libraries using userful.com, etc.

It is indeed unfortunate that students in most Toronto high schools are denied the opportunity to learn and use the same system used by the most powerful computers on Earth! Table copied below demonstrates that well over 75% of the world's top computers are running various flavours of linux. Further, it would seem that other parts of the world, such as Europe, are going to surpass North America in technology leadership, perhaps because they seem more OPEN minded? ;-)

Linux	351	70.20 %
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8	1	0.20 %
Redhat Enterprise 3	7	1.40 %
HP Unix (HP-UX)	33	6.60 %
MacOS X	5	1.00 %
Solaris	5	1.00 %
UNICOS	12	2.40 %
Super-UX	4	0.80 %
AIX	44	8.80 %
Tru64 UNIX	4	0.80 %
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9	5	1.00 %
UNICOS/Linux	1	0.20 %
CNK/SLES 9	23	4.60 %
Redhat Linux	1	0.20 %
Windows 2003 Server	1	0.20 %
RedHat Enterprise 4	2	0.40 %
Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003	1	0.20 %
Totals	500	100%

Well, another 12,000 linux computers in 1,200 public schools, this time in the Phillipines, reported today. It is becoming so routine in schools (except Toronto...sigh), I may start collecting articles about how businesses are also switching, just to add variety :-). Why heck, even police departments (and this one, and this one, and...well, you get the idea :-)) are seeing the light.:-) The list in business and government (examples) is also huge and expanding rapidly.:-) Oh well, just take a look at this sample 16 PAGES of migrations to linux! :-) How about banks? (or this one, or this one, etc. :-)) Or in medicine? How about MRI machines in hospitals? Or stock markets or this one in New Zealand (with response times reduced 94%! and queries 600 times faster than previously! ?) or the New York Stock Exchange or during the Sept. 11 emergency? or Chicago Mercantile Exchange? Got a cell phone? Or during hurricanes, New Orleans, for example? Or tsunamis?
If you hear the time worn excuse of 'nobody uses it', or it's 'not secure', or any of the other innumerable myths about linux, a little bit of googling will demonstrate that it is rapidly expanding everywhere (except Toronto schools...Toronto businesses, yes,... schools, no...hmmm...wouldn't want students to learn about that 'linux stuff' now would we...wonder why that is...) Ignore the myths and find out what you are missing...:-)

And then, there are schools providing opportunities for their students and staff...and Probably the most advanced board of education, best in Canada would be in Kamloops, B.C. Far, far ahead of Toronto. One of the top public schools in the UK has saved thousands! In just one school! Here's another that discusses their savings...and on and on (UK examples)...and on and on (mainly USA examples, although a few others in Canada, as well as Australia, Thailand, etc.)
Here are software details about the largest known USA GNU/Linux migration and even more interesting details about the InACCESS project to reach a 1 student to 1 computer ratio, using GNU/Linux! :-) The second link, using a PDF/Slideshow type presentation of their study is also somewhat technical, but enlightening. Meanwhile, back in Toronto...sigh...