Are all girl FIRST team counterproductive to the philosophy of FIRST?

[Lledargo]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

If you can find the transcript of where Dean has said that exclusive or all-girls teams are wrong, I'd be interested to re-read it. I've listened intently to every one of Dean's speeches for 16 years, and I never heard anything discouraging exclusive or all girls teams. I remember him saying at champs (maybe 2 years ago) teams without mentors are missing out... but I never remember anything about exclusive teams.

To a point made earlier... there ARE all male teams. And just like all female teams, often the reason is because of school. An all boys catholic school simply isnt going to permit girls on the team. Just like an all girls school won't have boys on the team.

Firstly, I personally disagree with all exclusive teams, not just all girls teams, as they are no worse that a team that is all boys.

Secondly, I never said that Dean said All Girls teams are bad, but rather that I seem to remember that he has said FIRST is to inspire innovation in youth, and teach people how to work in todays growing diverse society. Excluding people of a different demographic creates less chance for major disagreements, and less opportunity to learn how to deal with such situations.

I also understand that many all boys, or all girls teams are started at a school where it is all boys or all girls. However I also disagree with all boys or all girls schools regardless of their involvement in FIRST.

I have said multiple times now, that I understand why FIRST should not discourage exclusive teams. If FIRST begins to discourage such teams then people involved on those teams will lose the chance to learn all of the other important skills they could have gained.