Growing Cynicism
The current model for robotics competitions breeds cynicism for both adult-led (competitive) teams and student led (learning) teams. Students on competitive, adult-led teams are cynical because they didn’t build the robot and they aren’t learning the skills that are at the core of coopertition. At the same time student led teams are often painfully aware that many of the most competitive robots were built by mentors and that gracious professionalism can be become a disingenuous platitude that mentor led teams use to stifle criticism and maintain a playing field where the competition has been removed from coopertition. The net result is a system that unnecessarily trains students to be cynical of FIRST’s core values.
This system feeds a harmful feedback loop. Teams with a lot of adult involvement win more, which attracts more mentors, and leads to more winning. Winning also leads to more money and support, which leads to more winning. It becomes an arms race of who can have the most and best adults on their team.
Meanwhile, teams that emphasize learning don’t win as much, which attracts fewer mentors, less community support and involvement and less financial support.
But there’s hope! See our page Ideas for Change.