Quote:
Originally Posted by gblake
So, in addition to asking the "we" question above, I would sincerely like to learn what specific problem is being affected by FiM trying to change FIRST's age/grade ranges?
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Based on my reading of their published materials (and this thread), the change seems to be aimed at getting an FRC team to cover every high school in Michigan. It seems to be about reducing the competition between FTC and FRC on these terms. I would guess that it's a similar argument for FTC in middle schools, though that seems to be in less focus (granted, I'm chiefly an FRCer).
This seems to produce two different concerns:
1) Is having an FRC team cover every high school in Michigan a good goal? A reasonable one?
2) Separately, is this an appropriate step towards that goal?
For myself: I can see the argument that FRC will end up in more high schools if they can't pursue the lower-cost FTC alternative. (Though I think limiting the grants would've been enough instead of shutting teams out of events.) As to the first question, it has elements of a noble goal, though it'd be much better to see it read "an FRC program for all high schoolers an FTC program for all middle schoolers, and an FLL program for all upper elementary grades--and any other teams as the local community would like to support." I see it as a poor transition plan even if that is the goal.