I have been teaching high school math and science for a while, and I am starting to teach programming within my math and science classes. I am using linux (ubu

I have been teaching high school math and science for a while, and I am starting to teach programming within my math and science classes. I am using linux (ubuntu) for programming work for a number of reasons: - It's what web apps are deployed to in the real world, so any student who will go on in the field will need to know linux. - Students love linux. I have had very few students who knew anything about linux before they came to my school, but everyone enjoys using it when they have the opportunity. - It's easy to get a programming environment up and running. - Students get open source. They love that it's free as in price and free as in freedom. - Using linux avoids adding to the education gap between classes. To really learn programming, you must program on your own time. You can not expect people to program well if they don't have their own computer. You must be free to have an idea after dinner, and follow up on your idea that evening. Not everyone can afford a mac; it is very easy to set someone up with a cheap or donated laptop running linux. I'm happy to hear you are sharing your expertise with students. Many students don't find anyone in their schools that really get programming. That first contact with a real programmer can easily be life-changing.