Changing a culture of cynicism

[YAK'ker]

Not ever meaning to judge a member by their outward attitude....but I have known many who are on our team simply because their parents pushed them to be, or they want robotics on their resume. Sometimes that works and they eventually become engaged and team-oriented, but more often than not, they take their rebellion against parental authority out on the mentors and the team officers.

My son is a non-cheering type, it's just not his thing. I have no problem with kids who are that way. It's the kids who go out of their way to be negative about showing spirit and who judge others who do that can pilot a team into a negative slump. In a way, it can be a form of bullying, especially when they make fun of others on the team. This has to be stopped right away, then find out what the cause is for their negative attitude and go from there.

[ArtemusMaximus]

Originally Posted by staplemonx

Be the change you want to see.

Absolutely agree.

I also would add, ask them what would make them excited. Even if one of them can verbalize what it is and you can help that happen, it'll make difference.

Another thing, if it all possible surround them with easily excited people; after all for logs to burn you need a lot of kindling

[aciarniello]

Another thing, if it all possible surround them with easily excited people; after all for logs to burn you need a lot of kindling

This really made the difference for our team. Much of our presence in the stands had a "too cool for school" attitude to it in years past. It was a consequence of the culture of our school, really.

An extremely enthusiastic mentor with FIRST experience found and joined our team...and she has made a world of difference. She refuses to be unenthusiastic and won't allow our students to be either. She's fairly young and so relates to the students well, which kind of 'gives them permission' to let their hair down a bit and really have fun at competition.

She's a bit of an anomaly and I don't expect someone like her to just walk onto your team like ours, but perhaps a pointed search for a "spirit mentor" could help with your culture!

[JamesCH95]

A few things I will note:

The great teams in FIRST and FRC are not stepping on the necks of lesser teams, the great teams are reaching down to lift the lesser teams up on their shoulders. Imparting this mindset to your team, and having positive interactions with other teams, will help to shed (what I think is) the underlying "it's us versus them" attitude that manifests as cynicism on your team. Celebrate all others' successes because they are our successes as members of FIRST.

Lead by example. Get you students to laugh. Taken them with you to talk to other teams. Take them with you to HELP other teams. Make all of them dance. Remind them that they're at a robotics event, any traditional "coolness" got left at the load-in doors and they're not going to impress anyone by being aloof. Reward the worst (I mean best) puns your students make. Remind them, or better yet show them, that people aren't too different between different teams; we're like one big cult (I mean that in a loving way) and they should embrace being part of such a fantastic group.

[ArtemusMaximus]

Originally Posted by JamesCH95

A few things I will note:

The great teams in FIRST and FRC are not stepping on the necks of lesser teams, the great teams are reaching down to lift the lesser teams up on their shoulders. Imparting this mindset to your team, and having positive interactions with other teams, will help to shed (what I think is) the underlying "it's us versus them" attitude that manifests as cynicism on your team. Celebrate all others' successes because they are our successes as members of FIRST.

Lead by example. Get you students to laugh. Taken them with you to talk to other teams. Take them with you to HELP other teams. Make all of them dance. Remind them that they're at a robotics event, any traditional "coolness" got left at the load-in doors and they're not going to impress anyone by being aloof. Reward the worst (I mean best) puns your students make. Remind them, or better yet show them, that people aren't too different between different teams; we're like one big cult (I mean that in a loving way) and they should embrace being part of such a fantastic group.

Very good points. Especially one about helping others. See if your local FLL or FTC teams need help. That puts a lot of things in different perspective.

[Bob Steele]

The hardest part of acting like you don't care is knowing how much you actually do.

[cglrcng]

Originally Posted by matthewdenny

Our competition season recently came and went with the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland (Congrats to the Winners). During the course of the competition I witnessed a culture in my team that both irritates and befuddles me. It has been constant since our inception as a team in 2012. Until this year though I didn't recognize it for what it is: Cynicism.

Almost all members of our team exhibit this quality. They never allow themselves to be excited about pretty much anything... ever. When other teams cheer and yell, they sit and observe. When theres mascots dancing with people in a corridor, they detour around. When people stand and cheer at awards presentations, they might give a golf clap.

I talked about this with my upperclassmen Friday night, and here's what I got from them (I will paraphrase their quotes).

-"If I don't get excited, I can't get disappointed"

I've thought about the nature of cynicism over the last few days, and I think it stems from the general feelings of hopelessness, mistrust that is prevalent in our student population. Being in rural Appalachian Ohio has (I infer from them) has a lot to do with this. Granted, at times it can be a bit depressing in an economic way, but I don't see it the same way they do.

MY question... how do I change this? I think the world can be an amazing place for a bright kid, and FIRST is the exact type of thing that they should feel safe to give in to vulnerability that comes with excitement. How can I overcome this culture of cynicism and let them feel free to enjoy the ride?

As a note: If you are on a team that has got a cold shoulder from someone on our team, I'm deeply sorry.

____________
Mathew...You keep smiling! You will go far young man. And, you personally...Have nothing to be sorry about. Especially about having fun, as fun is what every student in FIRST should have being able to do what you are doing in FIRST together! (In my day, we made sheetmetal personal tool boxes, screwdrivers, hammers, cuttingboards, and lamps in woodshop & metal shop!)

But, we had fun doing it too. And we learned what tools were...We made them, & or a box to hold them in. When my dear mother passed away a few years back...I found those 3~4 cutting boards still in use in her kitchen, and some of those tools I personally crafted some 40 years ago in school, as I cleaned out her home.

Tell your team repeatedly, to go grab some fun while they still can...Soon enough, the games are going to turn into real work. Turn those frowns upside down.

[Chief Hedgehog]

Cynicism is right there along side apathy. Both are used to guard against being judged. This is not unique - we have experienced this in our little hamlet of Becker. Talking with other teachers and administrative types from other districts - this is a common phenomena. Walk the halls of your local HS - how many kids are wearing Letter Jackets these days?

Our collective culture has conditioned us to tamp down those that are successful. Look at the local news, tabloids, etc. Who is making the headlines? Either those we love to hate or those we hate to love. We cannot get beyond our own selves to congratulate someone else for their achievements - no matter how great or insignificant. We have become a pompous, arrogant, jealous culture.

How do we change this? Just look at what FRC has been doing for 25+ years... this is what we are missing in our communities. FRC demands that the teams get out their local community events and present our successes. It also demands that we get out to our local industry to ask for help.

In an off-the-cuff conversation my co-head Coach asked me this: "Why has education failed so badly the last 50 years?" I thought about it for a while before he answered this: "Because us educators have failed to recognize that the local community has so much to offer. We don't ask for their help. And that is why our team is succeeding when it shouldn't."

What does this have to do with the apathy/cynicism question? Everything. By asking/allowing others to help us - by asking them in to our fold - we will perceive them as judging us. And in the American Culture of the 21st century - that is taboo.

Or I may be off my rocker. But what FRC has taught me more than anything (as a teacher and a coach) is that I do not know everything, and the moment I think I do, my students will let me know that I do not.

I can also go down the road of 'Control vs. Influence' or even the relationship of 'Arrogance and Ignorance'... but I better not - I am just a Tech Ed teacher.

[matthewdenny]

I would like to thank all of you for your response (both in this thread and through PM), I am here reading them and digesting all you have to say. I really appreciate each of you taking the time to help a team many of you may never meet.

[Dylan Danzeiser]

Originally Posted by YAK'ker

My son is a non-cheering type, it's just not his thing. I have no problem with kids who are that way. It's the kids who go out of their way to be negative about showing spirit and who judge others who do that can pilot a team into a negative slump. In a way, it can be a form of bullying, especially when they make fun of others on the team. This has to be stopped right away, then find out what the cause is for their negative attitude and go from there.

Definitely agree with this- there's a huge distinction between those who are just more quietly excited, and may not get into the cheering, dancing atmosphere of competitions but are nevertheless very motivated an invested in the performance of the team, and those as described in the first post that have this attitude towards the competition as a whole.