[Steve Wherry]

I guess that I am a little taken back by some of the short-sighted statements of students who represent a school prior to representing the FIRST team (whether you like it or not).

Before a FIRST team can succeed, it must have the support of the school which includes the administration and teachers. Most teams have their school name announced during competitons. Yes, there are programs that are not directly associated with a school district, but this is only a few teams.

As a FIRST mentor for 8 years, I have had to jump through hoops, at times, to make sure that our school system continues to support and allow a FIRST team. Basically, we cannot risk allowing students who are not willing to put in at least a minimum amount of effort in the classroom to be a part of the team. I need teachers to allow students to travel. I need the administration to allow our team to travel. I need teachers and administrators to allow our students to miss classes to do a demonstration at an elementary school. The key word: "allow".

Common statements have been, "Well I am bored and do not want to do homework, but FIRST interests me and allows me to grow." Students who get an F or two D's are suspended from our team until the next progress report. If FIRST is that important to them, then they will get there head on straight and play the game. Why? Because the team has to in order to maintain the full support of everyone involved. Yes, this includes those teachers who bore you into not doing homework. In most professions, employees at times have to complete tasks that seem to have no purpose. However, they do it so that they can keep the job. They then keep full support from their bosses.

Administrators play this game called No Child Left Behind, and the graduation rate is extremely important to them...even before our FIRST teams. If a student isn't cutting it in the classroom, then no extra-curriculars. Many students seem to blame the mentors who are getting pressure from the top dogs for inserting grade restrictions. The true blame goes to the student who decides not to cut it in the classroom, but wants to be a cornerstone of FIRST instead. Schools tend not to support this attitude or approach.

Like it or not, teams have to play the game in order to keep the support...or become extinct. Some risks are not worth taking.