Students Sign Petition Against Robotics Schedule

Written by: Mary Rojo on December 8, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Mary Rojo
Managing Editor

Seniors of the robotics team utilize their leadership qualities by creating a petition against a Gold-Purple Schedule–an alternating schedule that splits the robotics team so that the extracurricular hour limit is met.

All school organizations working on a task during after school hours have an eight hour time limit. Recent robotics teams have put in up to 40 hours a week to meet building deadlines for the robot, which decreased each members’ physical capability.

Career and Technology Director Stephen Rhoades feels that the new schedule is the best idea for the robotics team and will strengthen the team’s overall performance.

“Fatigue can have adverse affects on staff performances– personal, academic and extracurricular,” Rhoades said. “I believe that the new schedule will allow robotics members to perform to the best of their abilities in all endeavors.”

Robotics Supervisor Robyn Segrest is in agreement with Rhoades in that the Gold-Purple schedule has been set for every members’ benefit, but believes the team has established the freedom to disagree.

“First off, I am very proud that they have taken the initiative to do this,” Segrest said. “What I don’t think that they realize is how difficult their senior year is in the spring, but they have earned the right to petition.”

Senior Ariel Hardin, co-captain of the robotics team believes in assisting the underclassmen and teaching them in-depth knowledge on a one-to-one basis.

“We know what we are doing and with us being there from last year, we can help the new members,” Hardin said. “ We have so many new members on the team that they should be on the new schedule so they don’t get worn out.”

According to Rhoades, new members have not yet experienced the long work hours and the demand it takes to build a robot. Sophomore and one of the new members to the team, Shelby Walters is unsure how to take the Gold-Purple schedule.

“I don’t agree with the schedule because it should be our choice of how long we want to be here and on what days,” Walters said, “but I can see where Mrs.. Segrest doesn’t want us to get burned out.”
Sophomore Juan Alvarado see both the ups and downs that the Gold-Purple schedule creates.

“The main benefit that will come from the Gold-Purple schedule is that we can be closer as a smaller group,” Alvarado said, “but there is a down side because you won’t get to know everyone on the whole team.”

Senior and co-captain, Jeffin James, encourages the team to strive for what they want and to work hard no matter what the circumstances.

“The petition is a step to show the incentive that we want to be here and that we want to work hard,” James said. “Going alternate days can get confusing but if we can step up and have people there every day, we can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time.”

The petition is still in the process of being signed and will then be presented to Rhoades for consideration.

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