Week 4

We're in the second half of the game... almost crunch-mode, but not quite yet.

The chassis has been completed and ready for motoring-up. Software has been going forward with coding and have a good handle on the traction- and inertial-control systems. Waiting for parts now, that should be delivered this week. Making parts in preparation for the delivery of the conveyor-specific order to arrive.

I am getting more short with the team too, and that's not something I am happy about. I find that the years on the team are getting to me; things like losing NEW tools, not 4 weeks old are more than just an annoyance. Things like the same students asking the same questions over and over again are more than just a nuisance. The same students who can't find ANYTHING, unless it's directly under their noses. Different students constantly asking "where's the " or "what do I do now?" Captains who are not leading. Students who can't seem to remember what they were just doing, not 10 minutes prior.

The weather people are predicting another major snowfall that will more than likely take out Wednesday's meeting. That's the break I think I need.

Then there's the shop teacher. What a piece of work.

Tuesday night, several frame parts were welded and left to cool by the rear door. We forgot all about them. The next morning, they were discovered, and discarded. It was pretty clear that the parts were not scrap, but the shop teacher either discarded them himself or directed one of the students to do so. We wasted several hours on the evening of 21-Jan looking for them. It wasn't until Friday that the truth was revealed. By then we had re-manufactured the missing parts, costing us time and money.

I want all who may read this to know what an unprofessional this particular teacher is, to willingly discard the efforts of students because of his ego. He is employed by the Merrimack School District as a teacher. However, his recent willful disregard for the students on the FIRST team clearly demonstrate that he is the epitome of everything that is wrong with the tenure system every "educator" in the public school system is protected by.

This incident is one of many, on going efforts on his part that will not go unreported.