When do mentors go too far?

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by KathieK

Wow, didn't see a single post in this thread about mentors and the non-engineering aspect of a team... just a question, not meant to insult or inflame, just curious, on the student-led teams, how did you eat during your Regionals? Was one of your students in charge of figuring out where the team would get breakfast, make the bagged lunches, figure out what restaurant could seat you all for dinner? And did you put your hotel reservations on your credit card (to be reimbursed later)? Our team has a large mentor base. I'd love to talk to a team which is more student-based to see how you do it all.

Don't get me wrong, I agree mentors, parents, and teachers are a VERY important part of a working team, from what you described to actually inspiring kids into science and engineering, but from what I have read, it seems that many people are disappointed in the whole "new train set on Christmas day" type scenario. I read this in a tour book once about if you are doing it for the kids or if you are doing it for yourself. Imagine you are 7 years old on Christmas (or any other holiday) day and you got a huge, new, shinny train set. You have the train, the track, the little people, the cool gates that go up and down when the train comes near it, even a faux tunnel! But before you get to play with it, your dad takes it downstairs to build it up, allowing you only to watch and see it in motion. Your dad thinks it's best if he sets it up and runs it, he thinks you'll get more out of it.

That's the thing I think people have problems with, the whole "engineers with toys" portion of it. The engineers don't have to be greedy or power hungry, just a little to excited to inspire. Is this analogy true, I don't know, I'm only part of one team so far. But I can see where these people are coming from.