FIRST on "The Fosters" - Monday Nights on FreeForm 8e/5p Starting Tonight!

[AllenGregoryIV]

the weird coach from the favored team, who is way too invested in a high-school robotics competition

- Maggie Fremont of Vulture

There was so much to dislike about the portrayal of FRC in this show but I think this quote demonstrates the worst of it. If people new to FRC are coming away with the idea that adult mentors shouldn't be passionate about FRC, clearly this has failed to do its job. Passionate mentors are reason the vast majority of teams of survive. We have students stand and clap at every event for the efforts of dedicated mentors and to have them discarded so easily by a TV show that has gotten so much support from HQ is extremely upsetting.

Countless times in this show I was hoping a mentor, key volunteer, or anyone would actually mentor these students and provide for some kind of character growth but you're left just feeling worse at each and every interaction. The people that are supposed to be teaching these students right from wrong are instead cheering profitably from the stands (I'm not above using harsh language but clearly there is a time and place and this isn't it). This show is not the behavior we should be promoting from team members or from our society. I understand it's just a TV show but that doesn't mean we should sacrifice our core values just for the publicity.

If this is the culture change that HQ thinks we need I dont want any part of it. This doesn't represent the FRC I know and love, and I regret promoting the program before watching how they would depict FRC.