Greetings Friends of FIRST^®!

I am pleased to announce the airing of a TV special scheduled for this coming weekend on CNN entitled ‘Education in America: Don’t Fail Me,’ hosted by Soledad O’Brien, which prominently features three FIRST ^® Robotics Competition (FRC^®) teams as they navigate the 2011 FIRST season. I have seen a preview of this special and it is very thought provoking about the future of education in this country and how you, as a part of FIRST, can help for the better.

I hope you will join with me in watching this incredible special. Please also tell 10 of your friends to do the same. We want to get the word about FIRST as far and wide as possible.

Please mark your calendar and tune in to CNN, Sunday, May 15 at 8 PM ET/PT. (Check your local listings for channel info and broadcast times.)

Regards,

Jon Dudas
President, FIRST

Program Description:
In “Education in America: Don’t Fail Me,” we learn that at this very moment, America’s future is at stake.

“If we don’t generate the next group of innovators, scientists, engineers, and problem solvers,” inventor Dean Kamen warns, “our standard of living, our quality of life, our security, will plummet!”

American students rank 17th in science and 25th in math when compared to other industrialized nations. They don’t have the skills to take on the high tech jobs of the future.

This is because of how and what we teach American kids. It is also because of a culture that values sports and celebrities above all.

The United States needs to change the way students are taught math and science, and children need to be encouraged and inspired to take the toughest classes in those subjects.

There is a nationwide competition designed to motivate high school students to take those classes, push themselves, and learn more (FIRST). Students Maria Castro, Brian Whited, and Shaan Patel are actively involved in it. But is it too late for them? Is it too late for us?

For Teachers and Others Who Want to Discuss the CNN Program… Pre and Post Program Questions, Learning Activities and Curricula Connections can be found at:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/studentnews/05/09/dont.fail.me.guide/index.html

FIRST^® Robotics Competition Teams featured in the CNN Special include:
FRC Team 842, Falcon Robotics, Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix, Ariz.
FRC Team 1403, Cougar Robotics, Montgomery High School, Skillman, N.J.
FRC Team 3675, Eagletrons, Seymour High School, Seymour, Tenn.
Twitter Hash Tag for “Education in America: Don’t Fail Me“:
#dontfailme