“Sí se puede” –Cesar Chavez
“Yes it can be done” is a phrase born from the story and abuse of immigrant labor in America; the belief in an American “lofty set of ideals” the driver within the phrase, the belief in humanity. Caitlyn Flanagan’s piece in The Atlantic uses the story of immigrant labor to explain why food education does not have a place in public school and it has stirred rage. I share it- for the philosophies Ms. Flanagan elicits in her bitter story of the state of education. While (immigrant labor) it is just one of the reasons to begin food education early, academic studies in this country has and continues to take a hit. We should all be concerned about it.
What subjects, how much of each will best prepare a student for the next stage, college, which by the authors’ estimation is the path out of poverty. Good puzzle. On the other hand, does anyone doubt that youth is in a state of emergency concerning their health? The writer views this dilemma as opposite issues, not one in the same. Alternately, a few courageous leaders have decided to attack this issue as one complex problem which has a diverse set of solutions.
“All learning has an emotional base.”- Plato
One effective philosophy of learning is to co-opt an academic, visual, experiential, and visceral approach. Modern education, giving a 360 degree experience as a most important element in the development of critical thinking, one measure of college admission and the reason a test score without an interview will generally not reserve a seat in college. My question though is how you can fit the essential lessons in more effectively? This is the genius behind food theory and experience as yet another tool in the challenge of BASICS so essential to engaging the student in learning for success- not only in college, but in life.
Introduction to soil is chemistry; working together is an opening to diplomacy, civics. To prepare food is to alter the composition, food science, study and alter the exterior/interior is spatial, application and conversion of recipes is math by metric, multiplication. Developing curricula surrounding the conversation of food and community does spark writing, critical thinking, verbal communication. Eating followed by discussion can lead a students’ interest to seek a college degree in nutrition science, food R&D, policy, foreign trade policy, social justice education, economics, business, medical and health research, the list could go on.
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand.”- Native American saying
At critical times, the public education system has put in place lessons-hygiene, sex education, when threats of disease (and early death) are imminent. Systematic education in the manner of including peer reviewed information in public schools (greatest volume of constituents than any other program nationwide) is far and away the most responsible and effective option for an educated society. That a society be concerned about the survival of its members with equal money dedicated, notwithstanding, than to the intellectual health and culture is to be applauded- absolutely, unquestionably.
The “lofty ideal” is to believe that change is possible with such single minded participants as you. If single dimension focus on the “highly intellectual” studies thus far has rendered California such a dismal failure, then isn’t it time to think “outside of the box” into the next dimension? What has been being done clearly no longer works!
“You don’t understand anything until you learn it more than one way.”- Marvin Minsky , cognitive scientist
Advocacy in supermarket choices, choosing fresh over processed is only going to work when children recognize the benefit of fresh produce, know what to do with it- a growing problem the offered school solution addresses directly. The food being dirt cheap is a more complicated and negatively motivated than you point out, veiled in the positive motivation of “good business model”. Food sovereignty, social justice issues, business models (for good or bad), nutrition, politics, this is part of your argument not to teach a basic knowledge in food? What better civic, economic lesson exists?
Several proponents of cheap food to feed the food insecure cite this model as the wonder of capitalism. But turn around to use then the imagery of the Mexican immigrants’ impossible working conditions, or your “stoop labor” as the soapbox and basis of the argument NOT to teach about food and as an insignificant model in education, which I do not understand. Does one not help cause the other? Students could learn about the statistics of causality and the history of industrialized slave labor in America.
I wonder if short sighted educational thinking is part of the problem and not part of the solution of raising the bar, producing better statistics. Your understanding of academic lessons in agriculture is all wrong! It could teach us, not just steal a slot in the day.
“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is a vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child”. - Carl Jung
Anita Olivarez Eisenhauer
Chef, Associate Professor
The Culinary Institute of America
“Sí se puede” –Cesar Chavez
“Yes it can be done” is a phrase born from the story and abuse of immigrant labor in America; the belief in an American “lofty set of ideals” the driver within the phrase, the belief in humanity. Caitlyn Flanagan’s piece in The Atlantic uses the story of immigrant labor to explain why food education does not have a place in public school and it has stirred rage. I share it- for the philosophies Ms. Flanagan elicits in her bitter story of the state of education. While (immigrant labor) it is just one of the reasons to begin food education early, academic studies in this country has and continues to take a hit. We should all be concerned about it.
What subjects, how much of each will best prepare a student for the next stage, college, which by the authors’ estimation is the path out of poverty. Good puzzle. On the other hand, does anyone doubt that youth is in a state of emergency concerning their health? The writer views this dilemma as opposite issues, not one in the same. Alternately, a few courageous leaders have decided to attack this issue as one complex problem which has a diverse set of solutions.
“All learning has an emotional base.”- Plato
One effective philosophy of learning is to co-opt an academic, visual, experiential, and visceral approach. Modern education, giving a 360 degree experience as a most important element in the development of critical thinking, one measure of college admission and the reason a test score without an interview will generally not reserve a seat in college. My question though is how you can fit the essential lessons in more effectively? This is the genius behind food theory and experience as yet another tool in the challenge of BASICS so essential to engaging the student in learning for success- not only in college, but in life.
Introduction to soil is chemistry; working together is an opening to diplomacy, civics. To prepare food is to alter the composition, food science, study and alter the exterior/interior is spatial, application and conversion of recipes is math by metric, multiplication. Developing curricula surrounding the conversation of food and community does spark writing, critical thinking, verbal communication. Eating followed by discussion can lead a students’ interest to seek a college degree in nutrition science, food R&D, policy, foreign trade policy, social justice education, economics, business, medical and health research, the list could go on.
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand.”- Native American saying
At critical times, the public education system has put in place lessons-hygiene, sex education, when threats of disease (and early death) are imminent. Systematic education in the manner of including peer reviewed information in public schools (greatest volume of constituents than any other program nationwide) is far and away the most responsible and effective option for an educated society. That a society be concerned about the survival of its members with equal money dedicated, notwithstanding, than to the intellectual health and culture is to be applauded- absolutely, unquestionably.
The “lofty ideal” is to believe that change is possible with such single minded participants as you. If single dimension focus on the “highly intellectual” studies thus far has rendered California such a dismal failure, then isn’t it time to think “outside of the box” into the next dimension? What has been being done clearly no longer works!
“You don’t understand anything until you learn it more than one way.”- Marvin Minsky , cognitive scientist
Advocacy in supermarket choices, choosing fresh over processed is only going to work when children recognize the benefit of fresh produce, know what to do with it- a growing problem the offered school solution addresses directly. The food being dirt cheap is a more complicated and negatively motivated than you point out, veiled in the positive motivation of “good business model”. Food sovereignty, social justice issues, business models (for good or bad), nutrition, politics, this is part of your argument not to teach a basic knowledge in food? What better civic, economic lesson exists?
Several proponents of cheap food to feed the food insecure cite this model as the wonder of capitalism. But turn around to use then the imagery of the Mexican immigrants’ impossible working conditions, or your “stoop labor” as the soapbox and basis of the argument NOT to teach about food and as an insignificant model in education, which I do not understand. Does one not help cause the other? Students could learn about the statistics of causality and the history of industrialized slave labor in America.
I wonder if short sighted educational thinking is part of the problem and not part of the solution of raising the bar, producing better statistics. Your understanding of academic lessons in agriculture is all wrong! It could teach us, not just steal a slot in the day.
“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is a vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child”. - Carl Jung
Anita Olivarez Eisenhauer
Chef, Associate Professor
The Culinary Institute of America