HS Culinary Class teaching cooking for BOXED Mac & Cheese

[aristocatz]

Sadly, I think it is mostly because those things are not measured on standardized tests that we then compare to other nations--where we think we need to be "the best. " I really do not know why we feel we need to be the best at taking standardized tests of just certain skills.

Isn't that terrible Honestly, It's such overkill. I work in a preschool and they are now expecting these kids to meet kindergarten-appropriate academic goals. They cut their social skills curriculum to make way for more literacy lessons (that they have trouble sitting & attending to) & cut their play-based centers to only 10-15 min/day. Play skills & social skills are so critical at this age, but sadly no longer viewed as important.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

When my daughter signed up for this class she was excited as she wants to be a Chef. Yesterday I asked what was going on in Culinary and she told me they were cooking boxed mac & cheese. REALLY??? REALLY?? Seems the teacher doesn't get ANY budget for food and must pay out of her own pocket. How is this even possible??? The other classes get the books they need why not give the teacher the CORE items she would need to teach a good class?? I remember at least learning Chicken Cacciatore when I was in there. JEEZ...

Sorry about the class, my wife would still fail

 

[barkley]

kind of off topic but since we're talking driver's ed-anyone remember signing up for it just to see Red Asphalt? I gotta say, the more recent versions in no way stand up to the original classic (nothing like watching smoldering humanoid briquettes topped with a crumbled princess tiarra amid twisted metal and hearing the voiceover "Tommy and Julie were king and queen of the prom, but they will reign no more BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE RED ASPHALT" (I apologize to those of you who have not viewed this cinematic classic courtesy of the California Highway Patrol but it was required viewing back in the day).

 

[marmalade]

Sorry about the class, my wife would still fail

I hope your wife doesn't frequent these boards. Lol

 

[Patch'sD]

The national median for a top chef is $67,000. The national median for a high school teacher is $45,000. If they can't buy ingredients how on earth are they going to pay the additional salary?

I don't think that you have to go out and get a top chef, besides it would be for about 10 hours per week. Only a School District would hire a full timer when a part timer would do.

 

[Patch'sD]

I've got no problem with that. However, you're claiming a Culinary Skills class is a waste (or at least that's how it's reading). You have no idea what the teacher is being paid, whether the calculus teachers have their supplies paid for, etc.

I have a problem with Taking a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese and calling Culinary.

 

[Patch'sD]

I think life sklls...like cooking, sewing, and budgeting, are far more important than Calculus (and, honestly, most other classes you take in high school) skills. So, yes, I am ok with the home-ec teacher getting paid the same/more for teaching those things...no matter how un-gourmet the meal is.

I remember learning about the different kinds of chocolate, how to wash veggies, and how to make beef stroganoff in my home-ec class. And, how to shop. I don't remember a damn thing from chemistry/calculus/verb conjugating...and I have done very well for myself.

I am glad you did well for your self. All that chemistry/Calculus/verb conjugating got me into college and then into a nice position in computers for the past 30 years. I trying to remember on my college applications and job interviews when they asked me about beef stroganoff.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I am glad you did well for your self. All that chemistry/Calculus/verb conjugating got me into college and then into a nice position in computers for the past 30 years. I trying to remember on my college applications and job interviews when they asked me about beef stroganoff.

Whether they go on to college or not, 100% of people will need to know how to feed themselves. It's not an unreasonable thing to teach in school, nor is it an either/or situation. People can learn calculus AND how to cook.

 

[luvsJack]

I am glad you did well for your self. All that chemistry/Calculus/verb conjugating got me into college and then into a nice position in computers for the past 30 years. I trying to remember on my college applications and job interviews when they asked me about beef stroganoff.

You don't think there are chefs who have been at their job for 30 years and doing very well? You sound like you seem to think working in computers somehow makes you better than an aspiring chef.
This class may be intended to give some training to aspiring chefs and it may be meant to teach life skills. Or a litte bit of both. Either way, its still important and should be funded.
Schools can't always just hire people without teaching degrees. Chefs may not qualify

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I hope your wife doesn't frequent these boards. Lol

About as much as she frequents the kitchen, thank heavens.
Actually she well aware, we have an agreement.
I cook and the family stays out of the hospital.

 

[okeydokey]

I don't think that you have to go out and get a top chef, besides it would be for about 10 hours per week. Only a School District would hire a full timer when a part timer would do.

Ten hours? Once again, things are different in different places. At our local high school, the teacher teaches sections of culinary I, II, III, and IV. Students who progress through at least the first three get safe serve and safe staff certified if they pass the testing and get a vocational certificate. They have guest speakers from culinary schools come to do demonstrations and attend culinary competitions where they can compete for scholarships to post high school culinary schools.

These programs are valuable and deserve funding. I fully support fu ding programs that students can get excited about and excel in. We need to do what we can to keep kids in school and raise the high school graduation rate in order to create a better educated and more employable future workforce.

 

[LilyWDW]

kind of off topic but since we're talking driver's ed-anyone remember signing up for it just to see Red Asphalt? I gotta say, the more recent versions in no way stand up to the original classic (nothing like watching smoldering humanoid briquettes topped with a crumbled princess tiarra amid twisted metal and hearing the voiceover "Tommy and Julie were king and queen of the prom, but they will reign no more BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE RED ASPHALT" (I apologize to those of you who have not viewed this cinematic classic courtesy of the California Highway Patrol but it was required viewing back in the day).

Great... and now I had to look them up on youtube and am now watching them. I can't find the original so I am starting with Red Asphalt 2 from 1980.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have a problem with Taking a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese and calling Culinary.

If that was the ONLY thing they did, I'd agree with you. Until we hear different, I'm going to assume they'll move on to more complicated stuff.

 

[bobcat]

I am a former Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, or Home Ec as many still refer to it. I have an advanced degree and a very wide base of education and my concentration had more credit hours required than any of my other education majors including the math education majors (most who will never teach calculus). I say former as there is no funding for vocational education and jobs are few and far between. I taught middle school Life Skills and we did have a fee associated with the class. Most of the fee was for the foods unit and let me tell you it is a challenge to create a budget for 100 students. At face value our food units would seem simplistic , as the box Mac and cheese does, however the skills that are being taught transfer to all other areas including your college prep classes. If you never learn the foundations of basic math and scientific reasoning you can't move on to the higher levels of thinking. Every lesson and lab aligned with the states math, science and language curriculum. Not every student learns in the same manner and for the hands on learners vocational education can often teach concepts that they had trouble learning In the more traditional settings.

I have been in corporate training for the past 5 years and while I miss the kids I don't miss the ignorance of people who think they can always do it better. I don't care if you teach first grade or physics all teachers are highly educated and deserve more respect and funding to do their jobs correctly. It's your future you are hindering when you don't support education. Who do you think will make decisions when you are no longer in the work force.

 

[powellrj]

kind of off topic but since we're talking driver's ed-anyone remember signing up for it just to see Red Asphalt? I gotta say, the more recent versions in no way stand up to the original classic (nothing like watching smoldering humanoid briquettes topped with a crumbled princess tiarra amid twisted metal and hearing the voiceover "Tommy and Julie were king and queen of the prom, but they will reign no more BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE RED ASPHALT" (I apologize to those of you who have not viewed this cinematic classic courtesy of the California Highway Patrol but it was required viewing back in the day).

I always heard about these films but we never saw them. I was never sure they were real. Now I have to google them!

 

[Flight]

Ten hours? Once again, things are different in different places. At our local high school, the teacher teaches sections of culinary I, II, III, and IV. Students who progress through at least the first three get safe serve and safe staff certified if they pass the testing and get a vocational certificate. They have guest speakers from culinary schools come to do demonstrations and attend culinary competitions where they can compete for scholarships to post high school culinary schools.

These programs are valuable and deserve funding. I fully support funding programs that students can get excited about and excel in. We need to do what we can to keep kids in school and raise the high school graduation rate in order to create a better educated and more employable future workforce.

Wow! Sounds like a fabulous high school! I agree, programs like that deserve more consideration and funding from the school and community.

 

[mickman1962]

wouldn't READING the package be enough? or can't these kids read?

 

[Flight]

Every lesson and lab aligned with the states math, science and language curriculum.

There is the problem. Why should a culinary class be aligned with anything created by a bureaucratic agency in the state capital. How about having an interesting and useful class taught by a skilled and motivated teacher that will get the kids excited about learning cooking skills and have fun doing so.

Oh yes, and during the class the students will learn a bit about math, science, and english. Any good teacher can blend those other skills and more into whatever subject they are teaching. The lesson should not have to comply with "State Education Lesson 23-26b.a4." I have seen it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

When I took it it was called Home Ec, and I still remember some of the cool things we made in cooking. I wish I'd paid better attention in sewing, though, as I could really use those skills today.

My DD takes culinary classes and they've been some of her favorites in HS. They have a decent budget, and have made some really great things, all from scratch and coinciding with lessons in other subjects. Since they sell things in school, proceeds go back into the budget. She's always enjoyed cooking and baking, and has become a really good chef at home. It's something she enjoys a lot (although she is not planning to make a career of it).

 

[bandksmom]

At my sons old HS they have a great cooking program. The students cook the lunches served in the cafeteria everyday as well as for special occasions. The school has a garden that the students use to get fresh ingriedients seasonally. They grow and tend to the garden as well. In grade 11 or 12 students in the cooking class have the opportunity to go away to learn cooking in other countries. This year Italy and Spain I think I heard. The teacher was on chopped canada this year and he won $10,000 and donated to help with the financial part of this years trip.
I hope if my daughter decides to go to this highshchool she will take advantage of this because she loves cooking.