Building robots? We didn't do this in high school. The closest
thing they had was shop class where they would build things out of wood and
learn to use tools (for boys) and Home-Ec where cooking and sewing was taught
(for girls). Wow, high school was sexist back then! Do they even have shop
class anymore?
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| safety glasses required! |
On Saturday, we attended the state championship robotics
competition to watch our 16 year-old granddaughter (team co-captain and robot programmer). Qualifying teams from all over the state, 36 in all, competed against
and with each other in 2-1/2 minute rounds, seeing whose robot could get the
most blocks in the basket, which robots could raise the flag and hang from the
overhead bar.
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| FTC Block Party! |
There were high school teams, magnet school teams, middle school
teams, even a girl scout team. Gilmer was well represented, sending 3 teams to
the state championship. Someone asked Madison ,
to have 3 teams Gilmer must be a magnet school, and they were surprised that it
was just a public high school - one with a teacher that goes the extra mile.
This program meets the qualifications of being very
educational, and from watching the kids all day, it is apparently fun also. During
the course of study they learn things like building something per
specifications and keeping within a budget, teamwork, problem solving, repair,
despair. They learn that they don't always win, that some judges are not nice,
and of course writing code and programming a robot.
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.
With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.
In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.
After a full day of competition, 8 teams will go on to Texas in 2 weeks for the
SuperRegionals. None of the Gilmer teams made the cut, although Madison's team is 2nd
alternate, standing by in case they are needed.
It was a long day of qualifying and elimination rounds, a
long stressful day of about 14 hours for some of the kids and parents and teachers who got there at 7:30
for check in and stayed until the end. And a special shout-out to the Gilmer bus driver who spent her very full day cheering for the home teams! We were already home when Melissa
texted me this picture and message - massive line dance has broken out!
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| isn't that the Gilmer bus driver? |
