Years ago I took an online college course using Xandros and used the Windows
version of Netscape running their free Crossover. Perhaps it's the ability to
log on to their secure servers? Also it could be a Wi-Fi problem or printer
printing problem.
The local Girls & Boys Club make Linux computers free for kids, but I don't know
how popular they are. Maybe MintPPC on top of DebianPPC will make all those old
Macs popular for kids, since Apple's Safari Extensions aren't available for
Tiger OSX.