[Molten]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Our team's students have typically decided in the past few years that one of our explicit goals is to win competitions. It turns out that we have a highly experienced adult mentor with a good sense of strategy who commands respect on the field as a drive coach. Not to take advantage of that resource would reduce our competitiveness.

This seems to be a universal thought in this thread so far. In short, I hear "we use an adult because it gives us a better chance to win". My take on this: Who Cares? Honestly, FIRST isn't about winning. It is about learning. If you sincerely think that choosing an adult as coach improves the learning of the team as a whole, I respect your decision. However, if it is just to win, I ask this...Who is winning? If you are hindering learning, then the team loses. I have said it many times, but I'll say it again. I feel more like a "winner" when the students learn and we place last, then I would ever feel going to nationals if I did anything to hinder education.

Originally Posted by ICanCountTo19

Over the past couple years in a large number of Dean's speaches we have heard him adress teams who are student run, no adult mentors. He says they're missing the point.

I think Dean is missing a point. Honestly, I know I'm speaking heresy here. Sure, for some the point of FIRST is about the adults working side by side with students. But for some of us, FIRST is about something else. For me it is about educating the students. Period. I honestly don't care what Dean or Woodie expect for people to get out of FIRST. Often a person gets something different out of a gift then is expected by the giver. I think the point of FIRST is different for each and everyone of us.