[Rick TYler]

Color me cynical (and this is NOT a political rant -- it wouldn't matter if Mr. Bush was a Democrat), but "additional funding for education" doesn't mean "more money for students who want to not merely pass minimal standards tests, but really excel." In my *cough* years of experience, it will mean more money funneled into those things on which school administrators are measured. These tend to be increasing standardized test scores (in Washington, that would be the WASL and don't get me started) and insuring that "no child is left behind." Working to provide life skills to students who are educationally disadantaged is a fine thing, but, IMO, it frequently comes at the expense of programs for students who want to excel in learning. I know that our own local public school systems spend far more on "special education" than they do on programs for academic high achievers.

The $25,000 it would take to fully fund a FIRST team (a robot and two tournaments) would be play money in a special ed program that serves far fewer students than a FIRST team will. It's sad, but providing exceptional educational opportunities to exceptional students is not a priority in (most) public education systems in the US.

Having several friends who are teachers or administrators in local school districts, I would be willing to bet ten US dollars that the typical public high school spends more to fulfill state and federal reporting requirements than a FIRST team would cost. Eliminate a big stack of paperwork, lay off some back-office paperwork movers, and spend the money on special programs. How about a world in which educational enrichment programs get as much money as varsity sports? How about a Title 9 program for those who want to develop brains as much as bodies?

Just dreaming...