this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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One big thing you need to think about is accessibility. This is something that came up in a conversation with a local representative in the UK - for children in public schools it is a requirements that any technology have good accessibility and not leave anyone behind. And accessibility tools on linux are, suffice to say, not great. Especially when compared with those on other closed systems. My local government ended up going with iPads for kids in schools, and the accessibility tooling on these was a factor in that choice.
What exactly do you think children are losing out on specifically in regards to accessibility when most apps these days are accessed through a web browser or interface? You can always have some specialty computers in certain departments for learning things like video or photo editing that may not work well on Linux but for most general purpose computing, open source more than covers those needs.
Its not about what can or cannot be done with the operating system but rather what functionality it has to support those with impairments to things like hearing or sight.
I posted a rant above, but 100% this. You can put users into a particular group in your directory and then they'll get their required screen reader, high contrast theme, large text, visual queues, native language, etc, on every Windows, Android, MacOS, ChromeOS or iOS device they use out of the box, no further tools needed. Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora? Not so much.
I’ll add that I learned from another user on here who administers a fleet of Chromebooks and iPads for a school that those devices make management of the classroom much easier. They’re designed with it in mind. He tried exploring Linux and it just didn’t allow teachers to monitor for inappropriate activity the same way.
If institutions spent on solutions for Linux, instead of Windows, all these things would be available and optimised for schools long ago. Training the next generation to be Windows users means just more ads, more illegal loss of privacy and more bugs and disastrous usability in perpetuum. We are seeing more institutions breaking the cycle. Getting together with other institutions and starting the process of moving over. Not taking the lazy option to follow the status quo.