(NZQA is the New Zealand government body that sets the exam curricula for the final 3 years of secondary school. This letter is addressed to their chief executive.)
Dear Dr. Klinkum,
I'm writing to you because I believe something very important is mission from the Digital Technologies curriculum.
Many students will be interested in honing their skills on free-as-in-freedom software (sometimes called "open source"). This is a wonderful thing: free programs have much to teach students learning to program and the free software movement is exemplary of moral courage as technologists face the effect their work has on the world around them.
But few students will be aware of their duties according to free software licences and copyright law. I believe the Digital Technologies curriculum should equip students to understand why free software licences exist and how to fulfill their responsibilities when they share or build on freely-licensed programs. It is essential they know this if they are to do the right thing by free software developers, the law and the community at large.
It's clear the Digital Technologies curriculum aims to teach students to be engaged with the social impacts of technology and become responsible practitioners, including in the area of copyright. I hope this suggestion will help further this goal.
I have included a pamphlet, produced by me, detailing exactly what I believe students should be taught. I can be contacted at carmen@missionlibre.org.
Yours sincerely,
Carmen-Lisandrette Maris
Mission:Libre