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Originally Posted by Alex_Miller_2175
It seemed to me that FIRST promoted it to us (people in FIRST) as being more centered around FIRST. I feel like FIRST has been over promising things to FIRSTers more lately.
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I can definitely see what would make you think that, but if you read FIRST's official announcement...
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I am pleased to announce the airing of a TV special scheduled for this coming weekend on CNN entitled ‘Education in America: Don’t Fail Me,’ hosted by Soledad O’Brien, which prominently features three FIRST ® Robotics Competition (FRC®) teams as they navigate the 2011 FIRST season. I have seen a preview of this special and it is very thought provoking about the future of education in this country and how you, as a part of FIRST, can help for the better.
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It really doesn't say that the program was ABOUT FIRST. It just says it follows 3 kids on FIRST teams as they navigate the season, and how we, as a part of the FIRST program can help.
I think we all heard what we wanted... that FIRST was finally getting its own 1 hour promo special... I know I thought that too, until I read & reread the articles previewing it on CNN's website.
But overall, I thought it did a decent job of capturing the build season, and I was happy that so many of my friends & family watched it. If you had a touch of background, it really gave more insight into "a buildseason in the life of a FIRSTer"... My grandmother and her brother (my great uncle I guess?!), and many of my friends and other family watched it and were thrilled to get a better understanding of the FIRST program, even if it was a little buried under the education system theme.
Overall, it is a little depressing how far our country is falling behind in world education. One of our mentors moved from China at a young age, but spoke at our pre-ship event about how intensely education is expected and enforced over there. Here in America, students have choices, there you are EXPECTED to get a good education and to work insanely hard for it, or you will never get a job or go to college (I'm paraphrasing from what I remember). Here in America, most kids go to school because that is just what you do... sure some have the drive to succeed, or some push/reach for more, but if we are going to get ahead, we need a much higher percentage of kids who WANT more education & WANT to do better.