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Why free software?

The free software is software that guarantees access to its program code and the freedom to modify it as you like. That actually gives you the following rights:

  1. The right to use the software freely and without limitations
  2. The right to share it with everyone and spread copies of the software, without breaking the law
  3. The freedom to learn how it works, to modify it in order to meet your personal needs, and to participate in its improvement if you wish.

Why did we choose to offer you such software? Why do we consider it as appropriate for the education?

Because it is accessible
The free software is accessible for everyone! You may take home and use the programs you teach at school in order to prepare your lessons in a better way. You may also give them to the students, so they can practice at home, without being afraid that you may break someone's copyrights. You don't have to own expensive licenses or use unlicensed versions in order to study - what students learn in school may also practice at home. The school may give to all its students free (or at the price of the copy) a disk with all of the programs used in school.
Because it is free and customizable
The free software is created with the idea to be easily customizable: you may add or remove separate programs or some of their components, may limit their functionality, may replace texts, pictures, colors. You may also add new features, according to your specific needs, or to hire somebody to do it for you. It's like someone gives you whole house for free and the right to rearrange it after your own preferences. With the closed source software is different - you may only rent it for some money, but you can change nothing beyond the set boundaries.
Because it may be especially for you
As the license of the free software allows distribution and modification, you can make your own version of the disk, which will be specifically for your school. Add your logo, school information, contact details. You may choose only those programs that you need and add to CD other if you want. May also add your examples, teaching lessons, manuals, helping materials and spread the new disk without additional taxes or limitations! When you do that, you will understand the real dimension of the term "free software" and the freedom those licenses actually give you.
Because it is on many languages
Most of the programs on this disk are either translated to many languages, or have clear and detailed description how this might be done. And again - it is not necessary to wait for the software vendor to find it convenient and translate the program, and hope it ever happens. If you have the desire and some free time, you may either by yourself or coping with other people to translate the program. You may also improve someone else's translation if you find it not clear and correct. Be sure - you are not alone - there is always someone willing to help or to continue what you have already started.
Because it educates in collaboration
The equity between people, the freedom and possibility to choose, to share, to work in team, the care for others, to contribute to everybody's profit - those are qualities we try to develop in our students, and which make us good citizens of a democratic society. But these are also the main ideas in the foundation of the free software, so actually it teaches them all. You have the right, and you are even encouraged to use the program without any limitations, to share it with friends, to make your own settings, to suggest how to improve it, to participate along with the people who created it in its development. Isn't it a practical exercise of the above mentioned principles?
Because it gives you choice
The free software defends your freedom and right to choose how to set your system, in what format to save your data, what applications to use and what operation system to start. Most programs on the disk are available in many operation systems, and you always have the same interface and set of features. The proprietary software, in contrary, usually aims the opposite - to limit your freedom, so actually you have to choose the same producer - interest goes above all, isn't it?
Because these programs are made especially for you
As they are made by volunteers, the free programs aim to be useful for the ordinary person. They are created by people like you and me, and for that reason everything was added because somebody needed it, not just to make the new and more expensive version needed and wanted. Those programs defend your interest as a user, not the interest of any corporation, for which the needs of the user are important as far as they bring profit; and user's interest is consider only if it doesn't go against the interest of the company.
Because it is forever yours
As the program code of this software is available you have the guarantee that it will be forever and literally yours. You don't have to go through the next more complicated and expensive version, because the old one is already not maintained. If you like it, you may use for lifetime. No fear that the license will be over or the firm-producer will bankrupt. The access to source code assures you that someone will take care for your program to work with the next OS. If for some reason this doesn't happen, you can do it on your own or hire somebody to do this for you. The program may grow along with you - if you want, use it for 50 years, if you only need small changes - do it alone or ask somebody to do it instead.
Your files will be always accessible
Your files will be saved in open file formats, which correspond to established international standards, and are not secret code format in which you don't know what and how is saved. So there is no danger you not to be able to open your files even after 100 years, simply because you already don't have the program. As everybody has an access to the source code of your program, he may add a possibility your files to be transferred into the format of the new program you want to work with.
Because it has good maintenance
There is always a good number of people supporting the free software program you use, ready to share their experience with you and to answer your questions. And why not - they have received the same help themselves.
Because it directly supports the society
Free software teaches the students equity, freedom, sharing, team work, and shows the advantage from these ideas in real life. It contributes directly to the education and to the society in general. Your students may share the programs they study at school with friends, relatives, etc. and teach them what you have already thought the students. That's how school raises the education to a new level and increases its impact way beyond its building.
Because it shows care for the people and not for the corporative interests
When you teach your students how to use proprietary software, you are mainly benefiting the company that produces this software, since you are creating potential customers of this software. When you use and teach your class to use free software, you show them that you care for them. Because they will learn and use programs that has all advantages shown above, and they can continue to use these programs at home. They can share them with other people without becoming criminals because of this. In opposite - they will give them same rights and liberties.
And last but not least ... because it's a pleasure
You haven't used free software yet, or you haven't contacted any of its other users? Well, try it - the taste is just ... different :-)