When do you tech software and when do you tech skills?

When is it appropriate to teach a software package because it is the industry standard vs. challenging students to figure out multiple software packages? I will typicaly install Gimp and Open Office on computers and sometimes hear "shouldn't we be using the standard programs"?

Here are some thoughts on that:

• It's more important students learn how to figure out software than learn a given package.
• The software will change and evolve by the time the students get in the workplace anyway.
• I want my students to be comfortable using these tools for the long term. I don't want them feeling that they have to use the expensive commercial program if there is a valid open source alternative available such as Gimp vs. Photoshop.
• The only time I could justify the cost of the commercial software is at the high school level.