( ERghh I'm reposting cuz I spent about an hour writing a massive rant, then the power went out.. so here is a shortened more revised version and between the power outtage and reading the elitism posts I'm about to have an anurism )
So you want to be elite? Who choses who the elite are? Is it you ? Is it Dean ? What if you are not deemed intelligent enough for the Elite class? Will you walk off with no argument for it was your idea?
It is true Varsity sports makes cuts, but it is also true that if you still wish to play any sport you can find teams to play on that are more on your skill level, the same can not be said for FIRST. FIRST is going to keep growing because there is a desire by most for it to grow, No one ever gets a chairmans for " sitting around wishing it were just the elite "
If you don't believe me, just go read the recently posted speech by Dean Kamen ( in 1998 ) he never once mentions wanting to restricting to kids with the highest IQ, infact almost through out the entire thing he talks about attempting to get inner city kids who never had a chance to wittness technology at its best, for them to get them involved.
Quote:
Excerpt from Deans Speach
You don’t have to go into these schools to see whether they’ve got a hot glue gun and rubber bands. You can bring them out to your factories, let them see what its like to use a 5 axis CNC laser cutting [machine], a wire EDM machine. Let them see what real analytic capability can do when you’re trying to solve a design problem.
You are here, as the name says, FIRST, for INSPIRATION and RECOGNITION of science and technology. We’re not asking you to be boastful. We’re not asking you to walk around and say how great you are. You don't have to. Just go about your business, but let the kids in. Let them see it, let them understand what power there is in knowledge, what power there is when you’re creative.
And maybe they’ll still not know the name of the guy that invented the CAT scanner, or the guy that did something that is much more important to their standard of living than a guy that can kick a ball 63 yards. But they’ll know something more important than that. They’ll know that they can do this. They’ve seen real people do it. They’ve seen scientists aren’t all old, antisocial, white, males, with German accents, with _____. But they’ll see scientist, engineers, technicians as people that are enthusiastic about what they do.
|
Now thats what FIRST is, and I love it the way it is, if I hadn't, I would not have quit all sports this year ( and that was a big deal, as I was projected to be get a scholarship to a competive d2 college this year for football ) Elitism would just go completely away from any sort of effort to reach that goal. I know if it were elitist I surely would not be involved, nor would I becoming an engineer later on in life.
FIRST will not change the entire culture, but what is wrong with trying to. If you change a handful of people, wasn't it worth it?
I believe if someone has a desire to learn let them in, let them learn, regardless of their intelligence level.
If you have a problem with people who don't want to learn just get involved so they can put it on their college app, and do no work at meetings and they are just a distraction to the team.. by all means, talk to them about their attitude, just like any normal coach would do, and then if they continue to have problems ask them to ship up or ship out.
But if anyone has a general desire to learn or work let them stay regardless if they are ( in internet lingo) " N00b or Leet " .. ( 31337 )
My rant is done.. because it is the 2nd time i've written it
Dan