Local newspaper Staff editorial ,Please Read!

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by JRuegsegger

As a high school student on a FIRST team and in a journalism class, I can say that this is one of the worst articles I have ever read.

Bias and an obvious lack of research are both slathered thoroughly over that article. I won't even get into AP writing style.

Editorials don't have to be researched or unbiased... they are by definition opinion based.

As others have said, the best way to deal with the kind of person that writes crochety letters to the editor is to be incredibly nice. They are quite glad to get into a shouting match, as they know they are right in the very core of their being. Invite the author to team meetings & an event! If they don't change their mind, certainly they are invited to their own opinions. After all, I do not recall the last time my opinions about something were drastically altered by an Oped...

I had a particularly nasty one written about me in 2009. Last time I checked, I'm having a great time designing airplanes and living life. I'm sure the author is still in his house reading local news and writing nasty letters, but that doesn't affect my life in the least.

[BJC]

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” -Dr. Seuss

We all do this because we enjoy it and it we want others to enjoy it as much as we do. Billfred has sent his letter, maybe the author will see we're all not as bad as he thinks, maybe he won't. Either way, we'll all continue to inspire and be inspired by the amazing people that are a part of this organization.

Take it in stride.
Regards, Bryan

[dcarr]

Originally Posted by BJC

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” -Dr. Seuss

We all do this because we enjoy it and it we want others to enjoy it as much as we do. Billfred has sent his letter, maybe the author will see we're all not as bad as he thinks, maybe he won't. Either way, we'll all continue to inspire and be inspired by the amazing people that are a part of this organization.

Take it in stride.
Regards, Bryan

Agreed. The general response to FIRST is so fantastic that something like this is but a small blip on the radar and doesn't impact what we do in the slightest. We'll all keep doing our best to promote our teams and FIRST in the best way possible.

I have tried to contact Mr. Davidson in order to offer him an invitation to one of our meetings.

I am also preparing an op-ed for next Sunday's paper that in my opinion the world is flat ,we are on the brink of being taken over by machines and LED Christmas lights are responsible for global warming.

[pfreivald]

As a high school science teacher and a school board member, I can only say this: There isn't a minute or dollar invested in education better than that which goes to FIRST. I extend an open invitation to the author to visit my FRC program to better inform his opinion on what it's all about.

[PayneTrain]

A fundamental aspect of a solid opinion article is to lay out well-researched and verified facts to form the opinion, not to lay out your opinion and form the facts around it.

An obvious example is championing an unwavering practice of "humanist schools" to develop social workers and teachers instead of people who would become employed in a blue chip corporation by using a "fact" that tech jobs become outsourced in 10-15 years, while no teacher or lawyer or doctor or social worker ever has a change in their career environment (something that is beyond debatable).

Instead, I think sound logic would say that given the following series of facts:

• Education quality in America needs improvement
• Unemployment in the United States is still woefully high
• The unemployment problem is especially prevalent among recent college graduates
• There are numerous open positions at tech companies that can't be filled because the college graduates described above do not meet the qualifications

to form an opinion along the lines of "maybe it's time we encourage children to pursue STEM fields in adolescent years."

I wish I had more time to develop better-versed thoughts, but I have finals to study for in my pursuit of my worthless, soulless-corporation-driven electrical engineering degree.

[F22Rapture]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

[*]There are numerous open positions at tech companies that can't be filled because the college graduates described above do not meet the qualifications[/list]

"Entry-level position"

"5-10 years experience required"