View Single Post
  #48   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-07-2015, 14:37
evanperryg's Avatar
evanperryg evanperryg is offline
IT'S THE BUMP N' DUMP
AKA: Evan Grove
FRC #4536 (The Minutebots)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 656
evanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond reputeevanperryg has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Sign this petition to allow girls in robotics! (at Timmins Public library)!

Quote:
Originally Posted by cbale2000 View Post
Not that I would encourage this, but I'm pretty sure if the parents were to sue the library they would win easily. Assuming this is a public library, this is a clear case of gender discrimination by a government entity. A good lawyer would have a field day with a case like this.

Just saying.
So, what you're implying is that every business who markets to a target demographic is racist/sexist/whateverist and should be punished. Sounds accurate.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur View Post
I disagree. A targeted event by it's very nature is discriminatory
It's discrimination, but is it an attack on social equity? No.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur View Post
Anytime you exclude a group, you are discriminating.
This statement is misleading. Was every team at a regional that didn't get picked excluded from elims? Yes. Am I discriminating by selecting specific teams? Yes. Am I attacking those I didn't pick? No. Is there a social justice battle to be fought? No.


Frankly, the quoted justification for an all-boys program sounds fabricated, whether that be by the parent or the librarian. The statement on cognitive decay in boys, even if it is true (I honestly don't know if it is), is weak reasoning for an all-boys STEM program. I have a feeling that either the librarian didn't know what to say to an unnecessarily angry parent, or the unnecessarily angry parent is demonizing the librarian.
In fact, if you actually read it, the librarian offers a reasonable compromise in allowing the student to waitlist. It's an all-boys program, and the librarian gave her an opportunity to join despite that. I respect the librarian's decision, and he/she has obviously been demonized in this situation. I'll vote for STEM for girls, but I don't support the idea that we should be trying to cleanse society of anything one person finds offensive for rash, unjustified reasons.
Target audiences are discrimination, but they aren't an example of social ignorance. An example of social ignorance would have been if the librarian explained that girls couldn't do STEM. An example of social ignorance would be to not develop an understanding before developing an opinion. The information provided in the petition is obviously one-sided and leaves out some vital details, including a proper dialogue and an explanation of the program itself. These holes, when filled, may allow us to develop a stronger understanding of the issue. Until then, we can fill those holes any way we want, but any opinion will be founded on vague, biased information.
__________________
FRCDesigns Contributor | "There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self." -Aldous Huxley
2012-2016 | FRC Team 2338: Gear it Forward
2013
Wisconsin Regional Winner 2014 Midwest Regional Finalist 2015 Midwest Regional Chairman's Award, Finalist, Archimedes Division Champion, IRI Semifinalist 2016 Midwest Regional Chairman's Award, Finalist, Archimedes Division Gracious Professionalism Award, R2OC Winner
2015 | FTC Team 10266: Mach Speed
2015
Highland Park Qualifier Winner, Motivate Award
2017-???? | FRC Team 4536: The Minutebots

Thanks to the alliances and friends I've made along the way: 33 74 107 111 167 171 234 548 1023 1089 1323 1625 1675 1732 1756 2064 2077 2122 2202 2358 2451 2512 2826 3936 3996 4039 4085 4241 5006 5401 5568 5847 5934
Reply With Quote