Are compulsory cooking lessons in UK schools a great idea?

Question

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080122/tuk-uk-britain-cooking-fa6b408_2.html

I remember taking cookery lessons (back in late 70s-early 80s) they really prepared me for life (as well as woodwork/metalwork/sewing classes). It's surprising how you can think back and think - yep I know how to make puff pastry, a good hearty soup and even homemade custard from those school days! I now live in Greece where I have to make everything from scratch - unlike UK there's not so much 'prepared' food. I am eternally grateful for the chance to learn most basic skills in all the lessons listed above as well as cooking. I used these 'skills' a lot in my life!
I was a window dresser (woodwork and metal work came in handy) When pregnant I couldn't find decent clothes in Greece - so I made some! All thanks to basic lessons in UK schools.
I think cooking lessons are an excellent idea (can't think why they need to bring microwaves into schools though) What do you think?

Answer 1

They are, cannot understand why they were taken off the curriculum, though Ed Mr Creepy Balls said one hour a week, sorry but that's not good enough. As i said earlier, better to get our children to learn to read and spell properly before anything. After all if they can't do that how on earth are they going to follow a recipe.



TST13 is that why we have some of the best chefs in the world.

Answer 2

I remember thinking at the time how daft it was that these kind of life skills were phased out of the curriculum. My eldest is about to move out of the home and lord knows what he'll eat if it isn't pizza or something else from a box.



Our school also had a separate couple of rooms called the flat, and in our last year of senior school (age 15+), we had to share the flat in pairs/three at a time for 1-2 weeks. So we would be there in school time between lessons and during private study sessions. We had to show we could keep it clean and tidy, we had to cook and prepare food for invited guests including teachers and complete various other tasks. There was a certain element of freedom in that teachers didn't just barge in, but as it backed onto some classes the noise levels did stay within moderation.



I hope that once this kind of life learning is reintroduced it will not be taken away again. It should be put together with parenting skills in order to help reduce teenage pregnancies and budgeting skills to show just how hard it can be to provide financially for yourself/family on low income and how quickly seeming easy routes e.g. credit cards/loans, can spiral out of control and the implications of bankruptcy which are not really talked about much anymore.

So I'm all for it, anything that teaches kids the value of healthy eating and importance of being able to look after yourself and your family could never be a bad thing.

Answer 3

Different era different kids I'm afraid, My Mum was wheelchair bound so i often helped her cook the dinner, and on plenty of occasions I would cook dinner for the family of eight, My two eldest sisters having got married and moved out, it stood me in good stead, and i still rustle up a roast Sunday dinner that taste the biz, The kids today are not so keen on learning the basic skills 14-15-16 year olds will probably not respond,

but if it was introduced in junior schools in small doses, to say 10-11 year olds it might catch on through secondary schooling. It certainly wont hurt to try,

As for me I was just a 13 year old boy back then,who loved football and couldn't wait to get to 17, to join the Army,



Happy days.

Answer 4

It's a great idea for every country. In just one hour a week the kids could learn a lot. I know I did.



My best friend passed away a few years ago and her hubby was absolutely lost without her. She did all of the cooking, laundry, banking, paying of bills etc etc. At 63 he really didn't know how to cook a meal on the stove. He was quite proud of himself when he eventually made bacon and eggs for breakfast. My father always said "if you can read, you can cook". We're certainly not doing our children or spouses any favours by doing everything for them.

Answer 5

Compulsory cooking lessons, as in no choice? Well in that case is not good idea at all.

I believed that schools are for academic lessons only. Kids are send to school to study more on useful academic stuffs that parents can't 100% or properly help/ teach their kids.

Cooking, sewing, painting, woodworks etc. are things can be learned at home or at the later date. They are not preparing the kids to be a good housewifes of the future or whatever, are they?

The most important thing is serious education for the kids. This high level of knowledge/ education is the one that will help them in the future. Degree that will make them sucessful and somebody someday.

That should be the main purpose of the school and not distract them with other extra curriculum activities (as they call it).

Answer 6

I live in the states but I think its agreat thing.Every man woman and child should be taught how to feed themselves a nutritous meal or two.Microwaves should not be involved what if you have no electricity would you starve? I have cooked food on a plain wood stove used to heat the home but they cook stuff too albeit not always evenly but one can get creative and learn through trial and error.I find you simply have to watch things closely and stir it alot its just fine.You can bake witha dutch oven they are awsome.I know a couple who cant cook and they are in their 40s They eat snackcakes,and takeout restaurant meals twice a day.They have horrible health and there house is a wreck from pizza boxes.

Answer 7

If done properly then great! Food tech (as it was called at my school) was brilliant, so much so that I avoided IT and business studies and took a GCSE in it - its not a GCSE in cooking by the way! Among other things expected of us my friend produced a diet plan for an olympic athlete (her father was an olympic sailing coach) and I produced a recipe book for homemade and healthy baby, toddler and childrens foods.



My mum taught me to cook for which I am eternally grateful but schools even teaching the basics of cooking and nutrition is a great idea - not convinced of its ability to takle rising obesity but not a bad idea overall.

Answer 8

Compulsory should be English. Optional should be any two of the following: French, German, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin. That's my 2 cents.

Answer 9

I taught my kids to cook. For some reason, my mother refused to allow me to have cooking lessons at school. (She's mad.) And I could never cook so I taught myself from cookbooks. My children all have cooking lessons at school, but I also encourage them to cook at home, from scratch.

As for microwaves - they're brilliant. Kids today will have busy, busy lives and they should learn to use every shortcut they can.

I mean, where would we be without things like washing machines/dishwashers, etc.

Answer 10

I think it's a great idea, otherwise we risk breeding a generation who have no idea how to cook and have to rely on convenience food, which isn't as good for you as the makers would have you believe. If people don't want to cook that's their choice but if the can't they're unlikely to try to learn in later life.

Answer 11

My mum thought us all how to cook, not only that when we were in the scouts learned to cook out. Then along comes all this survival shows and now I know I can survive with what I can get off the land. Bring on Armageddon I am ready as can be.



Maybe they should be teaching survival and food awareness as well. Just in case it all goes to pot.

Answer 12

Of course. It's a life skill that will enrich kids into adulthood. Better than being taught how to pass exams.



My experience of cookery at school was "Food Technology" - designing a food product to put to market the most profitably. This is such a cynical and unhelpful way to introduce food to children, as it sanctions the microwave meal / turkey twizzler mentality.

Answer 13

I think its one of the most sensible things they've come up with in a long time in regards to children's health. Lets face it, kids cant cook at all these days, those skills aint gunna be taken on into adult life resulting in takeaways everynight = obesity.



Im 18 and if i couldnt cook id be like the side of a house because i love takeaways and quick cook food. I like to cook proper food for myself =)

Answer 14

I think theyre a great idea! Especially for students who go on to university! All the cooking I do now is what I learnt at school! and it also means im not living off pasta like every other student lol.

Answer 15

Yes they are. They will teach kids about nutrition as well as how to cook. A lot of people in this country are obese down to not knowing what is a nutritious meal and how to make something healthier than deep frying it in oil.



Teaching children practically how to make meals and have the right nutrition and RDA of vitamins, minerals, fruits and vegetables will help to combat this. They can take their skills home and this could help the whole family. Its a lot cheaper to make a nice meal for the whole family than to phone a take away.

Answer 16

yes that is a good idea! at the school that my daughter goes to has lessons suspended every other friday and they concentrate on one subject which they may not normally have enough time to do! in the next few weeks my daughter will be doing cookery allday!! apparently they do proper food rather than just rice crispie cakes!!!

Answer 17

learning about food, it's calorie content, safe cooking & safe storage, makes perfect sense

it might make teenagers appreciate food & eat sensibly.

AND AS LONG AS THE SCHOOLS DON'T CUT SPORTS/PE TO FIT IT INTO THE ALREADY OVERBURDENED SCHOOL CURRICULUM!

Sorry to shout but a friend of mine a teacher, has already been told something will have to give & P.E was mentioned.

Answer 18

Yes, at least it will teach some sort of ability, there is more to cooking than opening a tin.

Answer 19

Yes, these are skills for life. Children should have the opportunity to learn things that sometimes they don't learn at home. Basic skills in everything you have mentioned, including basic financial skills for management of a household (budgeting, paying bills, etc), are things that everyone needs to know to prepare them for independence in adult life.

Answer 20

This is not new

It already happens in most schools

It should not be on every news program

Is Mr Balls trying to hide somthing else

Answer 21

They certainly can't do the Kids any harm by having those lessons. It should teach them the importance of a healthy balanced diet etc.

Answer 22

I think it is a brilliant idea in schools. I used to do cookery lessons when I was in my senior school.

Answer 23

I don't think that they are a good idea. I have cooking lessions at school and I can't cook to save my life. I also hated very moment of the class and very one in my class would say the same.

Answer 24

Yeah,

But kids wont cook, it's to boring, better things to do, they would say,

Answer 25

Not really.I just don't see some 16 year old gang leader or playground bully donning an apron and taking it seriously.He will probably just find the nearest kid with glasses and dip his head in a bowl of cake mix

Answer 26

yes i think its a great idea gives the children more knowledge and prepares them for adult hood

Answer 27

I also had these. I think they were most helpful and should be re-introduced. No microwaves!

Answer 28

I think they're a tad pointless, people don't cook because they're too busy/tired/lazy not because they don't know how to put vegtables in a pan and boil them.

Answer 29

Yeah I think so.

Answer 30

yae i do yes

Answer 31

no i hate cooking!

Answer 32

yes.