[gblake]

Originally Posted by Madison

Is it the programming that prevents said erosion or that it is for boys only?

Madison - Please pardon my thickheadedness, I'm not exactly sure what you want to learn, and whether you are posing a hypothetical/rhetorical question or wanting to dig into the actual experiment I described.

If you want to learn more about that actual program, certainly PM me and I'll put you in touch with someone who can get you answers.

Originally Posted by ehochstein

The following quote is taken from this Library publication.
I am quite happy that the decision was reserved and it is now an inclusive program.

If (and I emphasize *IF*), you discovered that boys in this community in the targeted ages are falling far behind the girls in scholastic achievement, and if you found out that one consequence was that the boys soon join street gangs that carry out many violent crimes against women (and men), and if you found out that this program was a program with a highly specialized lesson plan (focused on all sorts of young-male needs (the robot isn't the purpose of the program)) that is going to try to quietly steer the most at-risk students in that community away from a bad path; would you still be happy?

What I described here is unlikely, but it is certainly possible. I would want to know more about the situation before becoming happy or sad.

Originally Posted by Siri

... Blake, I do believe that you're the one who asked us to send money to the library--what would amount to $2,500 total--not only without knowing whether this is due to financial or other acceptable reasons, but without having any idea whatsoever what the library would do with that money. I'm all for giving both sides the opportunity to explain their case, but can we all please refrain from making up positive claims in order to deliberately use them against opposition supporters?
...

I don't think I made up a positive claim.

I tried to do two things, to make a point.

1) I tried to take the petitioners' positive claims about the library's good works at face-value, more or less. That is a more nuanced attitude than simply saying everything on the Internet is bogus. I think it was a reasonable risk.

2) I tried to pretend I was there. If I were talking face-to-face with the petitioners, I doubt the conversation would have gone more than five minutes before I suggested that they form a club/team. I don't know if the library's plan was a good one or a bad one, but I do know that no one in that community has to change it one iota, in order to enjoy learning about robotics. Where there is a will, there is a way.

If you like, I'll modify my suggestion into either sending the money to the petitioner, or to some well-known trustworthy steward.

My advice to the world in general: At the individual club/team, and the local tournament levels, be a force for positive change, but don't squabble over STEM programs like they are a scarce resource that only some illuminati from the secret-handshake cabal can supply (and insist that they supply your fair share to you). Instead, just do it (yourself); and leave any misguided folks/programs behind you eating your dust.

Blake