I got published!

[rsisk]

Hey Fredi,

There is just so much awesomeness in that article, thanks for sharing.

I particularly like this statement. I have noticed this characteristic of many FIRST students I have worked with.

Despite the 50 % drop out rate among engineering students at Arizona State University, so far none of our Falcon Robotics alumni have dropped out. It's not because they have the highest standardized test scores. It's because they are committed problem solvers who will no longer settle for just getting by in life. They are the kind of people that you want by your side when the chips are down and you find yourself stranded on that deserted island.

You represent an elite slice of society, a FIRST mentor. A person who has direct influence over the future of our world. The challenges are great, but so are the rewards. Keep on inspiring.

[David Brinza]

Great article, Fredi.

I've distributed the link to mentors and friends of Team 980 as a reminder of why we do what we do.

As a group, we've all got work to do to change the culture. The fact that athletic coaches are compensated for their after-school hours, while teachers coaching a robotics team aren't is an enigma within our educational system.

With the "i.am.FIRST" airing, comes the prospect of much broader public visibility of the FIRST program. We should be prepared to use this opportunity to get the "powers that be" to recognize the value of the program to students. It's time to get much more than passive endorsement of teachers' involvement with teams. Stipends are certainly in order.

Thanks for your inspiration to all of us!

[JohnBoucher]

Congrants. A great article.

Despite the 50 % drop out rate

Many students go into engineering without knowing what to expect. The FIRST experience makes a huge difference with these students.

[DonRotolo]

That pretty much sums up why I do it. No, not getting published, but the bit about the kids.
Nice, Fredi. Very nice.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Fredi,
Great article and as always, you are someone to look up to. Congrats.

[Rosiebotboss]

Fredi,

Great article. Many teams, I suspect, across the FIRST community experience the same results. Many teams, I also suspect, need to have their Admins read this. Mine is one and it will be passed on to Rosie's new Superintendant.

Thank you for putting together the words I have been struggling with for months.

[falconmaster]

Glad you all liked it!
Just as a disclaimer, the school district pays 3/4 of coaches stipend now. it took seven years to get to this point. Hope to equal a coach some day...
The article was written for a different group than First, it was for AUVSI
I get paid 300 a month, I joke that I get to go to work for free...

[xitaqua]

Congratulations Fredi,

I think your quote bellow speaks of a wider issue of culture not only about STEM, but about education in general.

When I began my teaching career I was also an athletic coach and was paid for my time and efforts after school. When my focus shifted to the Science and Technology Club I lost that compensation. It speaks volumes about the priorities of our society when an athletic coach is financially compensated and a robotics “coach” is not."

A good movie I watched recently that really got me thinking was, American Teacher : http://www.theteachersalaryproject.org/index.php

I don't think it is any national secret that teachers are not paid well, and that many need to take a second job just to make ends meet. That many times a lot things needed for the classroom come from their own pocket. I think the list of issue can go on.......

But I feel we do have hope, specially thru teachers like you who step up to the plate, and won't give up. For that I say Thank You.

We are still in the planning stages, but a group of citizens in Missouri is trying to identify school districts along historical highway 66 with a STEM after-school program going from the Arch to Joplin, MO capable of improving a robot no more than 30 minutes away from each other and have them exchange robots so each team can improve on the robot as it travels west or east, hopefully one day other states like NM, OK and KS will jump on this idea and a robot will be going across your state !!!!. The idea is that when likeminded folks get together they will be able to impact change.

Cheers,
Marcos.