Team 1717 retires

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by dgilbueno

ArtK nope its always been just seniors.

I realize that you were actually a part of this program.
But I swear, after a long discussion with Amir about his program back in 2010 when we did the SD regional together, he said his program consisted of juniors and seniors doing FRC. I'm like 99.9% sure, or just getting a little too old!

[Jay O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by waialua359

I realize that you were actually a part of this program.
But I swear, after a long discussion with Amir about his program back in 2010 when we did the SD regional together, he said his program consisted of juniors and seniors doing FRC. I'm like 99.9% sure, or just getting a little too old!

I know in 2009 it was all seniors from The New Cool.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by waialua359

I realize that you were actually a part of this program.
But I swear, after a long discussion with Amir about his program back in 2010 when we did the SD regional together, he said his program consisted of juniors and seniors doing FRC. I'm like 99.9% sure, or just getting a little too old!

Nope, just the seniors.



If I was in the affected class(es), I'd be lobbying for the OPTION to continue with the team (given that someone was willing to serve as the school sponsor) until all the current students (not sure whether I'd include incoming freshmen in that) in DPEA graduated. Kind of like having a senior design course in college: you generally get to pick your project at that level, to some degree.

[Marc S.]

I met Juniors at competitions but they weren't on the team. They were just their to see the competition.

[dgilbueno]

The only people that work on the robot are the head mentor which in this year's case was Sam Ridgeway, the senior class students on the team and the amazing mentors that came every night during build season. I'm pretty sure its been like that every year since it started. Some of the juniors are on the academies business teams and they document the competitions, do appearal, or do other none robot building things so the team can focus on building the best robot possible .

[aspiece]

I represent a FIRST Robotics Team and Program in Michigan and I would like to offer some perspective for the program and community of Dos Pueblos. I am from FRC Team 68, Truck Town Thunder, Ortonville, Michigan. I am the team leader of the team and teacher. I completely understand the views of the school district here but I would like to offer an opportunity to the team, mentors and students. This is a great opportunity to restructure the team to better align with FIRST to allow all high school students from the district to participate in the team in all grades. A large majority of teams are ran as an after school program allowing students from the 9th - 12th grade to participate. From what I have read about FRC Team 1717, much of the funds collected in the past included a FIRST Robotics team. With the school not utilizing the program during the school day, doesn't mean it cannot be done after school hours. With the amount of support the team has both in the community of Dos Pueblos and FIRST community as a whole, there is no reason for this exceptional team needs to stop existing. I would be happy to share any materials, etc, to help make this happen. I would like to offer my support from Michigan and the entire FIRST in Michigan community. If there is anything we can do to help keep this team functioning, please let us know. FRC Team 1717 would leave a huge hole in the international community and an excellent role model of a team for students and adults look up to as leaders. I would like to say to the administrators of Dos Pueblos that it is important to keep FRC Team 1717 running and participating in FIRST. In the spirit of gracious professionalism, Tell me what you need and I will personally help you sort it out! This team and program has been an inspiration of mine as a leader and I would be happy to give back in any way I can.

For more information on our program, visit our website athttp://trucktownthunder.com/

[aspiece]

Originally Posted by dgilbueno

The only people that work on the robot are the head mentor which in this year's case was Sam Ridgeway, the senior class students on the team and the amazing mentors that came every night during build season. I'm pretty sure its been like that every year since it started. Some of the juniors are on the academies business teams and they document the competitions, do appearal, or do other none robot building things so the team can focus on building the best robot possible .

FIRST Robotics Represents the work force and does a great job doing. I know TONS of Engineers in the work force who do not directly work on the physical building of a system. There are so many things involved in running an Engineering Department. I would hope that Los pueblos considers this when getting rid of the program. Engineering comes in a variety of forms. Read my post above. I know there are a lot of great opportunities for the administration to consider the team running outside of the school day. This is done all over the country and there are many examples to follow in this.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by aspiece

I represent a FIRST Robotics Team and Program in Michigan and I would like to offer some perspective for the program and community of Dos Pueblos. I am from FRC Team 68, Truck Town Thunder, Ortonville, Michigan. I am the team leader of the team and teacher. I completely understand the views of the school district here but I would like to offer an opportunity to the team, mentors and students. This is a great opportunity to restructure the team to better align with FIRST to allow all high school students from the district to participate in the team in all grades. A large majority of teams are ran as an after school program allowing students from the 9th - 12th grade to participate. From what I have read about FRC Team 1717, much of the funds collected in the past included a FIRST Robotics team. With the school not utilizing the program during the school day, doesn't mean it cannot be done after school hours. With the amount of support the team has both in the community of Dos Pueblos and FIRST community as a whole, there is no reason for this exceptional team needs to stop existing. I would be happy to share any materials, etc, to help make this happen. I would like to offer my support from Michigan and the entire FIRST in Michigan community. If there is anything we can do to help keep this team functioning, please let us know. FRC Team 1717 would leave a huge hole in the international community and an excellent role model of a team for students and adults look up to as leaders. I would like to say to the administrators of Dos Pueblos that it is important to keep FRC Team 1717 running and participating in FIRST. In the spirit of gracious professionalism, Tell me what you need and I will personally help you sort it out! This team and program has been an inspiration of mine as a leader and I would be happy to give back in any way I can.

For more information on our program, visit our website athttp://trucktownthunder.com/

I'm quite certain that if they wanted to, they could run 1717 as an after school program. I am sure there's some reason that's not transparent to us that is causing them not to (my personal guess is that it has to do with the team's legacy post-Amir).

[dgilbueno]

Aspiece I can see where you're trying to go with this, but I personally don't think would be the same if it ran separate from the program that started it. That's why I've been slyly suggesting that someone in the community start up team 3434. A number that we had saved for this year, but didn't end up using because of the mechatronics project. I feel like if we used that team we'd give more people in the community a chance as well as the current seniors who were so excited for this upcoming year.

Cory you're correct if Amir really wanted to we could probably run it the same way we've run it for a while. In the program as a senior we have a ninth period during build season going from 4:30 pm to the next morning. It's basically the same thing as an after school program, but we get credits for attending. So basically it runs the same as most other teams from what I've seen.

[jpetito]

This is one of those asinine (Amir's words from The New Cool) State of California A through G things: Having a regular-day class in robotics only counts as an elective if you get a science or math teacher to teach it, and attempt to fit the class requirements into the UC or CalState regimen for admissions. FRC during the regular day has too much variety in the program for a fit into our narrow educator-bred curricular focus. Getting an "A" in the class will actually pull down your GPA if you as a student are on the Honors/AP track.

And so the removal of 1717 as a functioning FRC team as part of the regular day curriculum. Then there's the whole back-story thing of permitting all students the same kind of engineering-based education.

But: They've the people with the skills and motivation (and the shop) to continue a world class team; I foresee them pulling it back together as an after-school club and continuing with their legacy.

Maybe TorBots will see you in the driver's station, or from across the field in Long Beach or Orange County CA.

[RoboChair]

Originally Posted by jpetito

Getting an "A" in the class will actually pull down your GPA if you as a student are on the Honors/AP track.

1678 managed to get the course we teach to grade via your choice of either A-F grades or Pass/No Pass.

[jpetito]

Hi Devin- thanks for following this- it exposes a gap in the way we do education in California, and in many parts of the nation. Some would call the lack of this kind of education a national security issue.

We've all but eliminated technical and vocational education, a place where both the academy-bound and not could have success with hands-on practical skills, and immediately get a job out of high school, or be better prepared for the university engineering programs.

As is, we (teachers & administrators) cast about for new programs like "mechatronics" or PLTW to fill the gaps. The 1717 issue of pulling the foundation out from under the students is a local matter that was mismanaged by admin-- armchair critique, but they could have at least put the word out in January and got some feedback so as to promote the new program with a smiley face.

FRC is big, has boxcar-loads of cash invested in it by technologically oriented businesses, gets bushels of volunteers because of the way educators have over the last thirty years dismantled and thrown out this kind of education.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by jpetito

Getting an "A" in the class will actually pull down your GPA if you as a student are on the Honors/AP track..

Yes, the AP system is perverting our education system. And the students who are taking those AP classes are most likely to go the high quality colleges where they would receive a better education on the subject matter than in a high school classroom. No student should ever be put in the position that getting an A is not a good enough grade.

[Kevin Ainsworth]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

Heck, I thought they already had it. It's really sad to see 1717 go. They're an amazing team who I've always felt was extremely underrated, and a team I point new members to as an example of a model FRC program. They will be missed.

I know we downloaded 3d models of their robots, studied their swerve videos, searched CD for their posts and sought out their robot release videos. They were one of the top teams we emulated. They will be sadly missed.

[holazola]

Originally Posted by jpetito

Getting an "A" in the class will actually pull down your GPA if you as a student are on the Honors/AP track.

FYI - the non-honors GPA dilution (as being discussed in another thread) was not a contribution factor in the dissolution of team 1717 in favor of the mechatronics program. Here is an excerpt from the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy handbook:

Course Weighting and UC Requirements: Note that all DPEA courses (except Service Learning) are honors courses with weighted grades. These courses satisfy the University of California “a-g requirements” as follows:

● 9th Engineering Technology
● 10th Engineering Sculpture and Design
● 11th Engineering Physics

○ Together, the three 9th-11th grade courses count as three subject credits one each of: “d” (lab science), “f” (visual & performing arts), and “g” (elective). All three years must be completed to earn any of these subject credits.

● 12th Advanced Engineering Physics “d” (lab science)
● 12th Mechatronics 1 “d” (lab science)
● 12th Mechatronics 2 “d” (lab science)

The DPEA has worked very hard over many years to assemble a curriculum that aligns with UC requirements, fully at the honors level, and fits within the school district's high school class load & graduation requirements. Not an easy task. And aside from this FRC situation it is still an amazing program.