Quote:
Originally Posted by fox46
First of all, the shop is not *HIS*. He is merely an employee of the board- he does not own the equipment and resources in your school. Contacting your administration is the right way to go. What would *I* do next?
Work with your mentors and sponsors. Explain the situation if they are not already aware of it, then move everything - and I mean everything robotics related off-site to your mentor's garage. Have another teacher or the administration let you into the room and collect all your equipment. There is a magical key known as a cordless drill which can defeat nearly any lock! If it can't then it's friend- the bolt cutter, will. Your teacher will quickly get the message and he will then have to make the judgment call as to whether he's with you or against you. In any case, it doesn't matter- you will be free to work off-site as you please.
Keep in mind that (I am making an assumption here) he's not the one who paid the entry fee. You have sponsors who expect to see something for the money they have contributed. Explain to him that you have a duty to deliver a product and his actions have prevented you from doing so. Appologize for removing the equipment but explain that you felt it was necessary in order to continue with the project.
|
i have to respectfully state that this is really a bad and possibly criminal idea.
Breaking into school facilities and stealing the materials there are criminal acts and would only result in a quick closing of your program. You are putting a school administration in a no win situation for you if you do this.
Being a teacher in a situation where my room was being used to build robots I have experienced some of the issues here...
Cleaning up the room... It is only courtesy to clean up the room you are using if it is being used for other classes/projects
It really makes no difference who paid for your entry fee... the tools and materials belong to the school that the team is representing... not to the students...
Is your Head Coach being paid for this or is he volunteering? I know it can be a TREMENDOUS burden to the coach to do all of the things that are required to make a team work.
I think you have to find out WHY the head coach is acting the way that he is acting. Remember that there is an almost CERTAIN chance that student/mentor actions have prompted his reactions. No one acts for no reason...
I am certainly not condoning your coach's actions... they seem to be unreasonable from your description.
I just know that there are always more than one side to any situation.
Find out what the real problem is...
Again I am not condoning his actions... fighting unreasonable leadership with unreasonable or possibly criminal behavior is not ever the thing to do.
My own opinion is to not confront the teacher with a huge committee of obviously antagonistic mentors and students. Find another adult.. one with good social skills. and have that adult do a one on one meeting... no demands.... just informational on what needs to be done... and then work towards that plan... kindness and respect will do a great deal towards fixing your situation...
I hope things work out for you...
Just please don't make it worse...
Remember it is not a matter of who was right or wrong...
It is a matter of how do we proceed in a way that will allow a robot to be built and programmed ...