|
A couple points on this:
scholarships: I dont see any problem with a person or organization giving a scholarship that is open only to one group of people. The key word here is GIVING!
the scholarship is a gift - its not something you earned, not something you competed for - its something that was freely given based on the desires of the giver.
We do this all the time. I am paying for my own childrens college out of my pocket - isnt that my form of giving them a scholarship? If I want to pay for my nephews tuition, or to give a scholarship to someone from my high school (Hutch Tech in Bflo, NY) is there something wrong with that? absolutely not!
FIRST itself IS discrimantory! FIRST is a program intended to inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology.
Who needs that inspiration the most? think about this for a minute before you answer. I live in Fairport, NY - a suburb of Rochester. This year I volunteered to be the sparkie engineer for the Fairport team because they had no EEs.
98% of the graduating students from Fairport HS go to college every year. Many students here ARE the children of engineers, business men, doctors, dentists, teachers, professors...
Do these kids from the suburbs NEED to be inspired?
Well yes - it does help and encourage them to be a part of the FIRST program - it does push then further than they might have gone on their own.
Last year I was on the X-cats team - A city magnet school in Rochester, NY. Many of the kids on the Xcats had never even MET an engineer before they joined the team. The difference in the level of impact that the Xcats has on the students lives is like night and day.
The REAL impact of FIRST is to reach students who would NOT goto college otherwise - who dont have the motivation, the self confidence, the resources to make it on their own. That is what FIRST is all about - not a robot building contest - its a life changing, career building endevour!
Who is Jesses Jackson? what does he have to do with FIRST?! What does Will Smith have to do with FIRST? Who is this Woody Flowers guy I see walking around all the time? What are his political motivations?
There is a biblical saying: those who are not against us, are with us. If someone comes to a FIRST event, and encourages and uplifts some or all of the students, then God bless him - I hope he comes back next year, and anyone else who has positive and encouraging things to say to us.
FIRST: playing with robots -> altering the future!
note to moderator: I was writing this while you posted your request to end the thread - sorry - didnt see it until I posted.
Last edited by KenWittlief : 14-04-2003 at 10:19.
|