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Unread 27-03-2011, 19:51
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Re: Are all girl FIRST team counterproductive to the philosophy of FIRST?

well, the poll wasn't exclusively for all-girl teams...
Having been a girl scout leader and a 4-H leader, I have to argue that it's better to provide ample opportunities for kids to participate together in a positive, team-focused program that isn't focused on physical prowess. That's my answer on gender exclusiveness. But my pop, who was a civil, mechanical, and electrical engineer said "women make the best engineers" so I think making sure you have girls on the team is SUPER important!

As to being exclusive in any other way...I guess teams that are based in all-Christian schools are already that way, but as long as their bylaws don't specifically require members to be of some religious affiliation, they are OK with the philosophy of FIRST, which has no religious exclusivity implied.
Personally, I think most of our robotics programs are magnets for kids who are square pegs - those who don't necessarily do well in other school groups. I would love to see what the percentage is of our kids who have autism-spectrum disorders, for example.
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