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Unread 17-05-2008, 04:37
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Re: Lettering in FIRST

To me this seems like the core problem that high schools have with FIRST teams. Some schools just don't give the recognition that FIRST teams should get. If you compare a FIRST team to any sports team, you will find that there is a same commitment level and same basic principles. You train for the season (build and practice your bot), you have time management for games(you have6 weeks to build a bot for events) and you have team work(theres no need to even explain this one!!!). FIRST though is all about taking the spot light off of sports and movie stars and putting more focus on the science and technology leaders of the world. If you feel strongly enough about lettering, then by all means I feel you should try and "fight" this, and by fight I mean research and present your information to the correct people as a gracious professional. Now when it comes to this post:

Quote:
Originally Posted by David View Post
Number mine
To answer your questions
1. possibly. I know people how spend weeks working on stuff for TSA or science olympiad, but FIRST does require a greater commitment commitment. but some athletics teams require a 12 month commitment that is more demanding than FIRST.
2. Sometimes. NHS is a good example of a club with an application and do you have to apply to be on a team?
3. This number makes no difference. There are teams of 10 (golf or gymnastics) people and teams of 100 (football). As there are clubs of 10 and clubs of 50+

My personal opinion is lettering denotes varsity sport. Since there is no JV and varsity level, members of the robotics team should not get letters. Also, the school can't consider you a team for insurance and other purposes. Insurance companies (actuaries) view a robotics team differently than a football team. Do i support giving awards to members of robotics team for their efforts? Yes. Should this reward be a varsity letter? No.
I couldn't disagree more. On his first (1) point he says that some sports require a 12 month commitment, more demanding than FIRST. Look at the Chairmans Award, FIRST's highest honor. The biggest thing they ask you in the interview is all you a full year team and how. Chairmans winning teams do things year to spread the good word of FIRST and try to expand not just their team, but the entire program itself to it's community and beyond. This seems way harder to me. For number two (2), I do believe an application is necessary, especially when traveling to different regionals and nationals. With costs being so high, you have to make sure your team is really geared up for this sort of thing, you're in it for the long haul!!! Also, lettering is a sign of a team, not of JV or Varsity. These kids put in just as much, if not more, than any football, lacrosse or basketball team. Sure they may not pump iron like sports guys, but they will put in and learn more brain power and learn more than any sports team out there. If the kids want a letter, they deserve it. After putting in so much time to this program to learn so much, that is a much greater reward and life lesson than scoring a touchdown in a football game. LET THEM EAT CAKE!!!
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