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Doc
Keeper of the Scrolls


2010 Posts
Posted -  23/01/2008  :  11:11
Cooking lessons to be made compulsory in schools

Compulsory cooking lessons for teenagers at schools in England are on the menu today as the government seeks to counter childhood obesity. But headteachers have complained that ministers are once again trying to cram more ingredients into the curriculum pot, and warned that the equipment and trained staff were no longer available.


Ed Balls, the schools secretary, is asking the public to come up with ideas for the classic English dishes and international cuisine that children should learn to cook.

From this September, every 11 to 14-year-old in the 85% of schools currently offering food technology classes will be taught practical cookery.


The remaining 15% of secondaries will be expected to teach the compulsory classes by 2011.


The emphasis will be on making sure pupils can master simple, healthy recipes using fresh ingredients, the Department for Children, Schools and Families said.


John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "Just six months ago, ministers promised heads greater flexibility in the curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds. More decisions about what to teach would be made at school level, they said.

"Now they have fallen at the first fence, creating another entitlement and more compulsion for this age group. As many of us said at the time, the government should never have downgraded practical cookery 20 years ago, substituting - for example - 'design a picnic' for the skills of making picnic food."


Dunford added: "In the intervening years, schools have been built or refurbished without practical cookery rooms. It will be impossible for about 15% schools to put practical cookery on the timetable until they have the proper facilities. There is also a shortage of cookery teachers, who will take time to recruit."


Balls wants members of the public to suggest healthy, easy to prepare dishes that teenagers will want to eat.


He told the Daily Mirror: "Teaching kids to cook healthy meals is an important way schools can help produce healthy adults. My mum was passionate about all this and bought me my first Delia Smith book."


Pupils will learn to cook a variety of dishes, including a "top 8", officials said.


The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) welcomed the principle of introducing cookery lessons for 11 to 14-year-olds, but expressed concerns about the impact on the curriculum, the funding required and the training needed for staff.


PAT general secretary, Philip Parkin, said: "Children should be taught how to cook and about the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet. These are key life skills.


"However, the government needs to plan and fund this very carefully to make sure that the scheme is a recipe for success and not a half-baked idea that ends up being binned.

Parkin added: "There are practical concerns about what will happen if children fail to bring in the necessary ingredients. It might be more sensible for schools to purchase the ingredients more cheaply in bulk and charge the costs for each child to parents, with the government meeting the costs of those on low incomes, rather than having an unwieldy system of parents buying small amounts to send in, with some being subsidised."

Cookery is currently compulsory in primary schools and the government began an overhaul of school dinners three years ago after TV chef Jamie Oliver campaigned against the poor quality ingredients being served in canteens.



TTFN - Doc


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marilyn
VIP Member


5007 Posts
Posted - 26/01/2008 : 07:13
Yes...did all the 'Home Ec' stuff at school.....mixed classes as all the boys had to do it too. All wonderful memories and lots of fun.
Now that i am middle aged however, I get soooooo sick of cooking! I've tried it all and nothing in the cooking department is a challenge any more. Oh how I wish I could walk in the door at the end of the day and have an ample busommed, apron clad, pink cheeked cook taking up the task at my kitchen bench.....and all the yummy cooking smells to welcome me home. Everything tastes better when some-one else has made it!


get your people to phone my people and we will do lunch...MAZ Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 26/01/2008 : 09:39
Worst case I ever came across as regards lads knowing nothing about cooking or housework was an Asian lad we had on the Manpower Services team at Ellenroad in the 1980s.  He couldn't even wash pots or brew tea, he didn't know how to.  Turned out that in his culture anything like that was demeaning to men.  We soon broke that cultural boundary down by teaching him to wash up and brew tea.


Stanley Challenger Graham




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stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
BrianJW
New Member


12 Posts
Posted - 27/01/2008 : 14:27
I think its a great idea, be good to see kid learn othe knife based skils!!!!


"The more precisely
the POSITION is determined,
the less precisely

the MOMENTUM is known"
WERNER HEISENBERG (1901 - 1976) Go to Top of Page
Flutterby
Regular Member


690 Posts
Posted - 28/01/2008 : 20:39
I did lear n alot from school cookery  lessons but did make some shortbread once and my mum made me take some to the two ladies across the road. Strangely enough! the old lady who,s house it was died the day after leaving her housekeeperall alone. My mum used th tease me that i had finished her off with the shortbread, but she was very old!Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 29/01/2008 : 05:06
Whilst I am sure that cokkery lessons can only improve the kid's skills, there is no substitute for the fact that us crumblies learned by watching our mothers cooking.  They were constantly doing it and it became part of the fabric of life.  I doubt if we'll ever get back to that stage.  Probably more important to alert them to the bad elements on 'food processing'.  As for your shortbread Flutters, even bad cooking can't kill.  I think you can rest easy.......


Stanley Challenger Graham




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Flutterby
Regular Member


690 Posts
Posted - 30/01/2008 : 21:01
I think that being able to create something yourself through experience, when maybe you  dont have many ingredients or having to be thrifty. All this i learnt at school and my mother!Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 31/01/2008 : 07:45
Another thing that puts modern young people off cooking is that they have never built up store cupboards full of all the funny things that make cooking fun.  How many have yeast, bicarb and baking powder?  Different spices and herbs, salt, pepper, tomato paste, dried pulses.......   have a look in your own cupboard and make your own list. 


Stanley Challenger Graham




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belle
VIP Member


6502 Posts
Posted - 31/01/2008 : 09:11
Maybe it's also because young people today, all want to look and behave as though they are celebrities..you only get three approaches to food with celebs, they are either flamboyuant chefs, they dine out or they starve themselves....none of them are at home knocking up a cottage pie just like mum used to make, with fascinating ingredients from a store cupboard. So come on celebs set a better example!


Life is what you make itGo to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 01/02/2008 : 08:22
I agree Belle.  Let's have programmes devoted to bog standard cooking like wot we were reared on......


Stanley Challenger Graham




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mporter
Regular Member


978 Posts
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 12:34
Both my kids can cook, only basic things but damn good.  Katie does a very good Cottage Pie, Butter Cake and Creme Brulee and Laura makes good muffins (with a bit of help) a damn good spag bog and dad you would be proud of her fried egg butties.


Margaret Porter
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 04/02/2008 : 14:51
Fried egg butties are an art form.  Too many people think you just solidify two eggs and chuck them in. 


Stanley Challenger Graham




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stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
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