What is the biggest problem faced by FIRST teams?

[N7UJJ]

Apathy.

Do you know that only about 1% of 18-24 year olds get a degree in science, math or engineering? Thus 99% of the U.S. population rely on the 1% for maintaining our technological and scientific benefits.

In a like manner, principals, school boards, student bodies are not really familiar with the excitement and benefits of a FIRST program. They see other priorities like drop out rates, security, graduation rates, and fulfilling federal and state requirements.

Our job is to expose them to the issues and encourage them to support extracurricular academic activities (like FIRST). The money issues are just a symptom of the public apathy towards science, engineering and mathematics.