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Originally Posted by topgun
After all, we are there to help the students learn.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by FIRST Mission
Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
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While I agree that helping the students learn is a great thing, I do not believe this is explicitly stated in the mission of FIRST. We are here to inspire students. Inspiration can happen through learning, watching, and doing. Having Drive Coaches that are mentors can serve to inspire students very well even if it excludes students from the position. Students can see a mentor out there on the field as Drive Coach and say "WOW, I hope when I grow up I can be like them!" The same can be said about inspiration via a student Drive Coach. Younger students might see their older teammates or meet other teams' students and think "He/She is really awesome at Drive Coach; I hope I can make a difference like that on the team next year!" Skills can be built and lessons can be learned through watching and without being actively taught.
If we can get high schoolers looking up to positive role models through FRC, whether it be adults or teammates who are leaders (I argue it doesn't matter which), we're doing something right.