Local newspaper Staff editorial ,Please Read!

[dcarr]

One of the points in this article that really irks me is the idea that STEM programs are creating workers whose skillset is outdated in 10-15 years because technology changes so quickly. The author implies that we need more doctors, lawyers, etc. whose skills somehow magically never become outdated.

You know what also changes constantly? Medicine, law, and many other fields. Physicians are constantly undergoing training and learning new things. To suggest that STEM fields are unique in that they are fast-paced and require constant evolution is ridiculous. Plus, that's hardly a negative. I can't imagine working in an industry that would remain stagnant for the entirety of a 50 year career. "The day you stop learning is the day you die. "

[ebarker]

The irony. Students in robotics programs learn hardcore critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills sounds like a prerequisite for writing opinion articles. Maybe the author should join a team and get some.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by ebarker

The irony. Students in robotics programs learn hardcore critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills sounds like a prerequisite for writing opinion articles. Maybe the author should join a team and get some.

You should have mentioned that in the letter.

[IKE]

As others have stated, it might be best to invite the individual to some workshops or events.

Remember folks, the goal is to "change the culture". A lot of great advancement towards the goal has been accomplished, but letters like this are proof that there is still room for improvement.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by IKE

As others have stated, it might be best to invite the individual to some workshops or events.

Remember folks, the goal is to "change the culture". A lot of great advancement towards the goal has been accomplished, but letters like this are proof that there is still room for improvement.

The nearest events are BAE, Boston, WPI, NYC, Long Island and FLR.

[ebarker]

from the article

• 13 counties
• 20 local chambers of commerce
• 111 school districts
• 345 schools

have signed up for the initiative.

It seems like this is a gold mine of interested contacts. Seems to me like the relevant STEM/FIRST/VEX parties in the area need to get to work and get these people to the regional events. Or I guess the real answer is maybe they already got to work and already got them there in the past and this is all good news.

Good luck NY !!

[Billfred]

I sent my two cents:

L.D. Davidson's Sunday op-ed says sarcastically "Likewise, it is wonderful that students in Amsterdam are building 'robots' that play basketball. It must be great fun, especially if it substitutes for class time better spent on reading, writing, math and learning to think clearly."

Having mentored students in the same FIRST Robotics Competition as Amsterdam for nearly a decade now, I invite Mr. Davidson to visit with a FIRST team when the season begins next month--almost all meet outside school hours. I extend this invitation because I believe he is misinformed about the program and what results from a student's participation in it.

When a student has READ the competition manual to avoid creating an overweight, out-of-spec machine, WRITTEN sponsors from the local hardware store on up to NASA (which sponsors 11 teams in New York this year) to pay for expenses, done the MATH to ensure the motors will hold the load and won't blow every breaker on the robot, and LEARNED TO THINK CLEARLY when troubleshooting a custom-built 120-pound machine (and its software) in 10 minutes before the next match, the result is not merely a student with specific vocational training. The result is a student prepared to work through tough problems in any business, including those that don't exist yet.

This is why colleges and universities offer over $16 million in scholarships to graduates of the program, why names from George H.W. Bush to the founders of Google and YouTube have spoken at our championship event, and why companies as diverse as Xerox, Motorola, Bausch & Lomb, Lockheed Martin, L3 Communications, Con Edison, jcpenney, Time Warner Cable, and even the New York Yankees are supporting FIRST teams in the state of New York this year.

And yes, it IS great fun.

Sincerely,

William "Billfred" Leverette
Columbia, South Carolina

[dcarr]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I sent my two cents:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Billfred again.

Excellent letter.

[James1902]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I sent my two cents:

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Billfred again."

Well constructed letter. I agree that every invitation should be extended to the author of this piece. I believe that anyone who has had direct interaction with any of the students in the FIRST program would recognize the importance of the competition.

[XaulZan11]

Before we slam the author for their opinion (or worse yet, laugh at them ), we, as a community, should look at why what we have done/haven't done to give them their (perhaps incorrect) opinion. For example, many (most?) people think corportations should be kept out of public school for various reasons. On the surface, FIRST appears to not only allowing corportations to interact with students but encourges it! The entire purpose of FIRST is to get inspired by mentors who work for these corporations. As a community, we are very proud of all the corporate relationship we have, including them on our team name and t-shirts.

Of course I do not agree with the author, but I can see how we contributed to their beliefs. The best way to change their beliefs is to continue to promote and educate about FIRST.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

For example, many (most?) people think corportations should be kept out of public school for various reasons.

When confronted by people who think that something utterly impossible and (very!) debatable in terms of value such as keeping "corporations" out of public school, we should do when confronted with anything else: educate!

"Corporations" aren't soulless, money-sucking greed machines. Corporations are PTC, Deka, Bausch + Lomb, IFI, AndyMark... They're groups of people united in a common purpose to bring a product or service that betters both their own lives and those who use their product/service.

And many of these corporations seek to help people by participating in programs like FIRST, not because it gives them some sort of benefit, but because it's the right thing to do.

I'm as cynical as the best of them, but even I can see the value in more active corporate-school relationships--and this is true even when the corporate relationship is fundamentally self-serving. (Apple, for example, doesn't discount Apple products in schools solely out of the goodness of their hearts... They want people to prefer Apple products by the time they're able to buy their own and/or influence what their business/school/etc. buys... But their desire for Apple-preferring adults benefits schools and school children in very real and tangible ways.) That said, it's worth noting that many corporations support FIRST even though the long-term projections on their bottom line don't justify it -- they do so because helping awesome kids become ever more awesome is just awesome, and they want to help.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

Before we slam the author for their opinion .....

Absolutely. There is no purpose in slamming anyone that doesn't understand our viewpoint. There is purpose in moving their viewpoint.

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

For example, many (most?) people think corportations should be kept out of public school for various reasons.

The best case of not letting business into a school is when they are trying to convert students into customers of their products. Brainwashing students into buying whatever.

The case for letting business into a school is to create partnerships that help the students succeed which coincidentally helps the business and society succeed. There is nothing wrong with that and no excuse needs to be made for it.

I was able to contact Mr. Davidson, He declined my invitation to a meeting citing other priorities. He thought he might have time to research FIRST a bit maybe?

His main issue from a humanist position is that corporations are invading our public school systems, training future employees for semi skilled throw away careers. He feels the robotics program is simply "candy".

After speaking with him I don't believe I would want to convince him otherwise.
We agreed to disagree.

[PhantomPhyxer]

Dear Mr. L.D. Davidson,

You recently wrote an article about "Letting business shape K-12 curriculum is terrible idea”. I suggest you attend the upcoming kick-off of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) event on Jan. 5, 2013. It is an amazing event. At that event you will see that the sponsors are very well respected and trained Technical Experts at MIT and other well know Universities. Also these competitions are supported by past and current Presidents.

You will see the excitement and enthusiasm this event generates in the young adult students.

My experience is that this challenge is different and the competition provides a real life experience for the students to apply what they have learned. Every year the challenge requires the Robotics Team to build a robot in 6 weeks with a limited amount of funding, and the team has limited skill set. So, doesn't this sound like a real life experience? The Mentors works along with these Students are a trained Engineer dedicating their time to the school for free all across this nation. They not only pass on the critical thinking skills, teaching students how to read and evaluate specification, game rules, and technical drawings but they also learn how to calculate gear ratios, and robot speed. These Students learn Electricity, Computer-Aided Design, Machining and Metal Work, and Programming. Moreover, these students are not athletes but they learn how to operate in a team Environment. They also learn how to operate in a multi-team environment called an alliance.

Most importantly, individuals, Mentors and Teachers are taught to practice Gracious Professionalism. Teams compete like crazy but they do not in any way degrade a team member, another team or an adult. Booing at a competition is not allowed. When a Robot breaks a competing team helps the other team fix their Robot with parts, labor, or expertise.

Now does this sound like a setting where kids are goofing off and not learning?

Most of the Teams I have dealt with hold Robotics Team Meeting and build times after school have ended. Our school requires grade checks on all students. If we find out a student is not maintaining his or her grades we do not allow them to attend the Team Meeting. In some cases we provide a tutor.

Sincerely Yours,
Norman Collier
FIRST Team Mentor
San Jose, CA
Normcollier@comcast.net

[ebarker]

FYI,

I was just notified by the editorial staff of the Gazette that my letter to the editor will be published.

I'm glad to hear this.