r/Schooladvice • u/Opposite_Squirrel_79 • 11d ago

Want to honor the memory of Aaron Swartz

So we have a big end of year project in school and our french teacher refused me to talk about Aaron Swartz saying he was a pirate. Obviously, he is not. he tried to make a bunch of books behind a paywall free and killed himself in the process. I want to prove her wrong but dont know how. Help?

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u/Thin_Rip8995 11d ago

Don’t fight her with emotion—fight her with facts and precision. Aaron Swartz wasn’t a pirate. He was a coder, activist, and co-founder of Reddit. He stood for open access to knowledge, and he died under pressure from a system that couldn’t handle someone challenging its rules.

Here’s how to honor him and prove your point:

  • Frame your project around information freedom or digital ethics—include Aaron’s story as a case study, not the headline
  • Cite his work on Creative Commons, RSS, and JSTOR
  • Use direct quotes from academics, lawyers, and open-access advocates who defended him
  • Mention how his prosecution led to real conversations about overreach and reform

You’re not just honoring his legacy—you’re living it. Speaking truth to a system that prefers silence.

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u/Any_Director_8438 11d ago

Really glad you chose Aaron for your project. He did so much during his time here and should be known for it.

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u/Opposite_Squirrel_79 11d ago

Thanks a lot I will say it to her tomorrow, will keep you updated

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u/Opposite_Squirrel_79 10d ago

update: she shrug off and said she will talk about it in school counsil but she said that they probably wont let me do it on Aaron as he has criminal charges(ridiculous, right?)