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Originally Posted by N7UJJ
What kind of law would encourage kids to become more interested in science, math and engineering?
Any advice?
Allan
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I don't think a law in and of itself can do anything. But a law can provide motivation and or money to people to make things happen.
For example a law requiring every high school to provide some sort of competitive robotics program would suddenly move robotics from near the bottom of the school administration's priority list to somewhat higher. Of course then it has to compete for resources with all of the other state and federal mandated school programs. If no resources are provided, then the administrators have a good excuse not to do it even though the law requires it.
One solution might be to have the State Department of Education provide grants to schools who have competitive robotics teams. The grants should include provisions for stipends similar to those received by athletic coaches for the supervising teacher(s). The grant amount should be 50-75% of what it costs to enter a FIRST competition. Maybe 100% for the first year only.
Raytheon sponsors many teams here in the LA area. They have found that the teams that have to work to provide at least some of their own funding are much "healthier" than those who have everything provided. Having to work at fund raising seems to improve the team dynamics, though for a rookie team things are confusing enough already, and maybe you should let them see first hand what the potential of the program is before adding that extra work.
I would suggest matching grants, but that means somebody from the school has to keep track of funds raised and somebody else with the state has to decide who gets how much, which adds two layers of bureaucracy, always a bad thing. In view of the amount of money involved ($5-7.5K/school), I don't think that an added layer or two is cost effective. Sometimes it is just cheaper not to have oversight.
Ideally I think the burden of cost for Robotics teams should be born by school booster clubs with the teacher's recieving a stipend similar to the football coach's paid for by the school. Robotics should be considered a sport like track or football and funded the same way. I'd rather not have the State involved at all, but if the State insists on doing something to help, then let's help them do it right. The football model works so I'd try to get some legislation similar to that which supports the athletic departments.
ChrisH