Being involved in food education for many years I read and hear about chefs quite often. I am often amused by their celebrity and watch what they do on T.V. because in fact; they have created a positive interest in food preparation and careers related to food.
Today on the Katie show when Rocco DiSpirito stated that he goes around to high school to teach them how to make food, and talks about healthy food because there are no food courses in place in high school, I almost jumped through the T.V.
As FACS educators we often hear statement about subjects that we already have place such as, "someone should teach that....". But blatantly saying he is the only person in the United States that speaks in high schools and talks about Healthy Food preparation is a bit off of the charts.
I am trying to be rational and calm but I am having a hard time with this specific situation.
Why can't we as a field/profession break the mold that has been put forth about Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics? Why is it so impossible to get famous people or industry to support the work that FACS educators do? If we could all work together it would be so ideal.
Ponder these things as a FACS educator and continue to, or start to share the work that you do with the public because as a FACS professional you are important!
With love from your retired FACS teacher,
Jane
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
A Story From My Former Classroom
Some of my readers know that I retired early from my position as a FACS educator in Minnesota.
I decided to continue my connection to education as a substitute teacher. I am subbing mostly in the school that I was employed by, for 14 years.
I enjoyed my co-workers and when they need a sub I try to make myself available to sub in their classrooms. The school is over crowded so when the teachers I sub for have prep their room is most often being used by what we call a "traveling teacher." So....I sit in the FACS office and read or talk to my former co-workers.
Today I got a belly laugh that made me literally cry!
I pretty much hand picked my replacement. Sara was a teacher at our school and was moved out of her position with seniority but she was and is great. She has been having an interesting year battling to keep one of the programs that is near and dear to my heart. We have had many text and phone conversations.
Today she says, "Have I told you about the potholder situation in clothing and fashion?" I said, "No." She said I would not believe it and she really wants to start a photo book for me titled, You are not going to believe this.
We have an activity for student to get to know their sewing machine. They make a pot holder. She told them to make a 9 x 9 pattern out of paper to keep their cutting straight. She saw a line of kids waiting at the paper cutter and asked what they were doing. A girl said she could get a straighter cut with the paper cutter. Thinking they were cutting their paper pattern she went over to check on them thinking someone would chop their fingers off.
She got there and said, "WAIT, what are you doing?" They were lined up ready to cut their fabric with the paper cutter. Sara said her first thought was, "Jane is not going to believe this." Unfortunately, I do believe it.
It is so funny. In reality, we have gotten so far away from such basic tasks. Simple things, like cutting fabric, are so far removed from every day activities that students don't even get they are a million miles away from how to use a basic tool.
I realized this several years ago when students didn't know the difference between a pin, needle or safety pin. I never thought that I would ever have to demonstrate how to use a stick pin until I saw girls pinning their patterns by poking the pin in the fabric standing up. (Another chuckle)
Today I showed a video about memory in a Psychology class. One thing that I know for sure is that if someone took a FACS/Home Ec course in high school they have a memory of that course. It might not be a good memory but they have one. You rarely hear these kinds of stories about Algebra II.
This in fact is more evidence that learning by doing and application will stay with us for a much longer period of time. Tech Educators got this concept a long time ago!
Please share some of your FACS/Home Ec stories because, I know, they are most often fun and really create a good laugh!
With Love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane
I decided to continue my connection to education as a substitute teacher. I am subbing mostly in the school that I was employed by, for 14 years.
I enjoyed my co-workers and when they need a sub I try to make myself available to sub in their classrooms. The school is over crowded so when the teachers I sub for have prep their room is most often being used by what we call a "traveling teacher." So....I sit in the FACS office and read or talk to my former co-workers.
Today I got a belly laugh that made me literally cry!
I pretty much hand picked my replacement. Sara was a teacher at our school and was moved out of her position with seniority but she was and is great. She has been having an interesting year battling to keep one of the programs that is near and dear to my heart. We have had many text and phone conversations.
Today she says, "Have I told you about the potholder situation in clothing and fashion?" I said, "No." She said I would not believe it and she really wants to start a photo book for me titled, You are not going to believe this.
We have an activity for student to get to know their sewing machine. They make a pot holder. She told them to make a 9 x 9 pattern out of paper to keep their cutting straight. She saw a line of kids waiting at the paper cutter and asked what they were doing. A girl said she could get a straighter cut with the paper cutter. Thinking they were cutting their paper pattern she went over to check on them thinking someone would chop their fingers off.
She got there and said, "WAIT, what are you doing?" They were lined up ready to cut their fabric with the paper cutter. Sara said her first thought was, "Jane is not going to believe this." Unfortunately, I do believe it.
It is so funny. In reality, we have gotten so far away from such basic tasks. Simple things, like cutting fabric, are so far removed from every day activities that students don't even get they are a million miles away from how to use a basic tool.
I realized this several years ago when students didn't know the difference between a pin, needle or safety pin. I never thought that I would ever have to demonstrate how to use a stick pin until I saw girls pinning their patterns by poking the pin in the fabric standing up. (Another chuckle)
Today I showed a video about memory in a Psychology class. One thing that I know for sure is that if someone took a FACS/Home Ec course in high school they have a memory of that course. It might not be a good memory but they have one. You rarely hear these kinds of stories about Algebra II.
This in fact is more evidence that learning by doing and application will stay with us for a much longer period of time. Tech Educators got this concept a long time ago!
Please share some of your FACS/Home Ec stories because, I know, they are most often fun and really create a good laugh!
With Love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Family time is important but sometimes mom's and dad's need to get away
Family time is important but sometimes mom’s and dad's need to get
away.
Each of us was married and had children at a relatively similar
time. During that time as friends we
organized gatherings at least one time a year.
Some of these gathering have been elaborate and some very simple and casual. It is not always easy as we all live in the Midwest
but this space involves 3 different states.
When we started our gatherings it was time to get a break
from our kids and the trials and tribulations of everyday life. As we have grown older, and most of us have
approached the empty nest stage, it has been a time to talk about life’s
challenges and rewards.
I feel as though these gatherings are so healthy. They are filled with laughter, reminiscing,
encouragement and sometimes tears. The connections are deep and fond. As we grow older we see changes in each
other. Sometimes those changes make us
feel that we are so lucky in the path we have chosen and other times we might
look at a friend and aspire to make a personal change.
No matter what I am thankful for these annual gatherings and
hope that as a parent, single person or someone in-between you have
relationships in your life that can bring you joy and happiness too.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Let Us See if His mind has been changed.
This notification is being sent our by AAFCS organization.
There is to be a segment about FACS on "Good Morning America" Friday, Oct 11, 2013, it reads as follows. Looking forward to seeing it!
"Due to the huge response from supporters of family and consumer sciences and AAFCS to the “Jury’s Out” segment last week on Good Morning America, their producer asked AAFCS to arrange for anchor Dan Abrams to visit a family and consumer sciences classroom yesterday. In case you didn’t see it, Dan’s opinion on “Jury’s Out” was that it’s the responsibility of parents to teach their kids the essential skills taught in family and consumer sciences.
Jay (Judith) Worster, family and consumer sciences teacher at Belleville High School, Belleville, New Jersey, took up the challenge of demonstrating the importance of teaching family and consumer sciences in schools. Dan Abrams was a “student” in Jay’s “Intro to Culinary Arts” class, along with 15 high school students. Jay taught them knife skills, but also incorporated safety, sanitation, nutrition, and personal finance information. Dan interviewed Jay, two of her students, and AAFCS Executive Director Carolyn Jackson, CFCS.
AAFCS has been told by the producer (but there is no guarantee in the media world) that the piece will air on Good Morning America tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 11th). Please be sure to tune in and see if we have influenced Dan Abrams’ opinion!"
There is to be a segment about FACS on "Good Morning America" Friday, Oct 11, 2013, it reads as follows. Looking forward to seeing it!
"Due to the huge response from supporters of family and consumer sciences and AAFCS to the “Jury’s Out” segment last week on Good Morning America, their producer asked AAFCS to arrange for anchor Dan Abrams to visit a family and consumer sciences classroom yesterday. In case you didn’t see it, Dan’s opinion on “Jury’s Out” was that it’s the responsibility of parents to teach their kids the essential skills taught in family and consumer sciences.
Jay (Judith) Worster, family and consumer sciences teacher at Belleville High School, Belleville, New Jersey, took up the challenge of demonstrating the importance of teaching family and consumer sciences in schools. Dan Abrams was a “student” in Jay’s “Intro to Culinary Arts” class, along with 15 high school students. Jay taught them knife skills, but also incorporated safety, sanitation, nutrition, and personal finance information. Dan interviewed Jay, two of her students, and AAFCS Executive Director Carolyn Jackson, CFCS.AAFCS has been told by the producer (but there is no guarantee in the media world) that the piece will air on Good Morning America tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 11th). Please be sure to tune in and see if we have influenced Dan Abrams’ opinion!"
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Yeah "GMA" for bringing FACS/Home Economics up but why is it that so many don't really know what it is?
Family and Consumer Sciences was on the "Jury's Out" discussion on the Good Morning America Show, October 2, 2013. It made me happy to see the topic but also sad that the conversation focused on the subject being too simple and easy to be educational coursework.
The fact that our society is filled with children that are overweight, children that love junk food, children that have only known processed food is a real testament to the need of FACS. The subject needs to be continually addressed in our schools. The food issue that we face is just one example of the importance of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The list of helpful course work is long but here are just a couple of topics.
Parenting and Child Development
Personal Finance and Consumerism
Housing and Fashion Design (Which are skills for industry)
Culinary and Food Preparation
and we could go on......
Thanks GMA for putting the topic in the public eye, please keep the important discussion going. I fear that although you had some great points looking through the eyes of an educated panel, of privileged folks, might not be a realistic perspective. As FACS professionals, in public schools, we see many children that do not get information on topics that some may deem common sense that one can learn at home. Until you step into an educational setting with "real" students from all walks of life it is very difficult for the GMA panel to make an adequate judgment.
I do appreciate that most of the panel said "yes" to FACS I sure hope that we can get it "out there" that FACS is more than etiquette. Keep the discussion rolling.
Below is the link to the clip from the show.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/jurys-dutch-engagement-rings-20442472
With Love from Your retired FACS teacher, Jane
Monday, September 23, 2013
Amazing Person Connected to my Family Roots and His Work for the March on Washington: Mathew Ahmann.
When I was a very young kid during the 60's I remember some things that were not normal for a girl growing up in a very small, all white community, in the Midwest.
There are several very vivid memories that I have in regard to race that never made a great deal of sense to me, BUT I am pleased to remember them and talk about them.
1. In a Catholic community with a few Lutheran's many Catholic children were literally not allowed to play with Lutheran children. I remember playing with Lutheran kids and asking my parents why so and so said they were not allowed to play with us when we were with those kids. Yep it is true. Crazy but true.
My parents said to ignore those comments and it was o.k., we are all the same.
2. I remember my Dad sitting me down and talking to me about race. He talked to us about skin color and how others would say people are not equal if they were a different color. He made a point of discussing negative terms and that we should not use them and correct others when they used them.
I did hear others use the "N" word and I did correct them although it was not all easy.
3. I remember my Grandparents giving us a "Julia" Barbie like doll for Christmas. This was a likeness to Diane Carroll who played Julia on T.V. She was a single black mother that was a nurse. My sister and I loved those dolls. I wish I still had mine.
4. I remember my dad insisting we do cultural things like visit reservations to see and be a part of pow wows in Minnesota long before others did so.
I believe that my parents were rather forward in their thinking because of the work of my Dad's cousin. I never really put things all together until recently.
My Dad's father is from a very large family that was pretty close (10 siblings). As adults all of the siblings would gather on Sundays at their parents home which included their children. The cousins became fairly close. As most of the cousins went to college, some stayed in the area and others moved away to do great things.
On October 14th my Dad's cousin Mathew Ahmann will be receiving a posthumous award, from St. John's University, in Collegeville, MN, for his work in civil rights and the organizing of the "March on Washington". At first I was reluctant to speak of him. Even though his work was great, he was very humble, and did not try to draw attention to himself but the cause. Who am I to claim a person that I only met as a child. I know I could never live up to such greatness. But as I have mentioned him to others; I am reminded that is also important to show that it is good to share about those that helped a cause that is progressing but still not fully complete. A cause that has been going on for over 50 years.
We often hear about the "Big 6", which were the original black organizers of the Freedom to work March. Later 4 members were added representing faiths around the United States. Matt Ahmann was one of those 4 men, representing the Catholic Church. Here is a link to a recent story in the New York Times about the white involvement of the March.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-march-on-washington-white-activists-were-largely-overlooked-but-strategically-essential/2013/08/25/f2738c2a-eb27-11e2-8023-b7f07811d98e_story.html
Below is a picture of the organizers for the March. Matt is the skinny one in the back left with the bow tie.
The following is a link to 11 of the main organizers for the march. If you click on their picture it describes their involvement.
http://billmoyers.com/content/meet-the-march-organizers/
There are some great museums around the United State depicting the Civil Rights movement. If you have never been able to visit them, do make a point of doing so. I was lucky enough to chaperone a group of black students on a "Black College Tour" several years ago. During that time we took the students to see several museums. Not only was it wonderful to visit these colleges but also see the students awakening while they absorbed the history and struggle of the civil rights movement.
It is always important to move forward in a positive direction but sometimes we have to look back to remember how we got to the present day. We need to look back to create a better future and example for those that follow us. It is so nice to find a positive piece of history in a fairly remote family connection. But really I can only smile and say, "HOW COOL IS THAT!"
With Love from your retired FACS teacher,
Jane
There are several very vivid memories that I have in regard to race that never made a great deal of sense to me, BUT I am pleased to remember them and talk about them.
1. In a Catholic community with a few Lutheran's many Catholic children were literally not allowed to play with Lutheran children. I remember playing with Lutheran kids and asking my parents why so and so said they were not allowed to play with us when we were with those kids. Yep it is true. Crazy but true.
My parents said to ignore those comments and it was o.k., we are all the same.
2. I remember my Dad sitting me down and talking to me about race. He talked to us about skin color and how others would say people are not equal if they were a different color. He made a point of discussing negative terms and that we should not use them and correct others when they used them.
I did hear others use the "N" word and I did correct them although it was not all easy.
3. I remember my Grandparents giving us a "Julia" Barbie like doll for Christmas. This was a likeness to Diane Carroll who played Julia on T.V. She was a single black mother that was a nurse. My sister and I loved those dolls. I wish I still had mine.
4. I remember my dad insisting we do cultural things like visit reservations to see and be a part of pow wows in Minnesota long before others did so.
I believe that my parents were rather forward in their thinking because of the work of my Dad's cousin. I never really put things all together until recently.
My Dad's father is from a very large family that was pretty close (10 siblings). As adults all of the siblings would gather on Sundays at their parents home which included their children. The cousins became fairly close. As most of the cousins went to college, some stayed in the area and others moved away to do great things.
On October 14th my Dad's cousin Mathew Ahmann will be receiving a posthumous award, from St. John's University, in Collegeville, MN, for his work in civil rights and the organizing of the "March on Washington". At first I was reluctant to speak of him. Even though his work was great, he was very humble, and did not try to draw attention to himself but the cause. Who am I to claim a person that I only met as a child. I know I could never live up to such greatness. But as I have mentioned him to others; I am reminded that is also important to show that it is good to share about those that helped a cause that is progressing but still not fully complete. A cause that has been going on for over 50 years.
We often hear about the "Big 6", which were the original black organizers of the Freedom to work March. Later 4 members were added representing faiths around the United States. Matt Ahmann was one of those 4 men, representing the Catholic Church. Here is a link to a recent story in the New York Times about the white involvement of the March.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-march-on-washington-white-activists-were-largely-overlooked-but-strategically-essential/2013/08/25/f2738c2a-eb27-11e2-8023-b7f07811d98e_story.html
Below is a picture of the organizers for the March. Matt is the skinny one in the back left with the bow tie.
The following is a link to 11 of the main organizers for the march. If you click on their picture it describes their involvement.
http://billmoyers.com/content/meet-the-march-organizers/
There are some great museums around the United State depicting the Civil Rights movement. If you have never been able to visit them, do make a point of doing so. I was lucky enough to chaperone a group of black students on a "Black College Tour" several years ago. During that time we took the students to see several museums. Not only was it wonderful to visit these colleges but also see the students awakening while they absorbed the history and struggle of the civil rights movement.
It is always important to move forward in a positive direction but sometimes we have to look back to remember how we got to the present day. We need to look back to create a better future and example for those that follow us. It is so nice to find a positive piece of history in a fairly remote family connection. But really I can only smile and say, "HOW COOL IS THAT!"
With Love from your retired FACS teacher,
Jane
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Why don't I feel bad about my choice? Could it just be the right one?
The school year is in full swing. Homecoming, at my former school of employment is over. I have subbed as a teacher about 2 days a week. Just enough to throw me off and not get much of anything done around the house.
Most everyone asks me how I am doing. Do I feel bad? Do I miss it? Do I regret it? On and on the questions go. I pause because I do not fell bad, I do not miss it and I do not regret it? Then I begin to wonder, if I don't feel bad, I don't miss it and I don't have regret was a bad teacher for wanting to leave early?
I hope not. Because while I was in education I did care about the children that I worked with and I made friendships that I will always remember and embrace. I had often said, "I just want to teach. I do not want the politics of education." Those feelings of never getting caught up, from former paper work, turned into computer work that was suppose to make a life easier started giving me anxiety. I am a girl that used a telex for communication during high school. We had to go to the library to type our papers with erasers and white out during college. Everything I learned on the computer was pretty much self taught and I really do love technology but not all of the programs made sense or my life easier. I had 5 different programs that "made everything easier". An example of a waste of time would be my collaboration group. We spent so much time figuring out how to record what we did last year that we only got things recorded. (We were not the only ones.)
My point from all of this whining is that teachers need a break. I know it is important to measure kids progress but if teachers have to spend so much time to figuring out how to measure they will not have time to do what they do well and that is relate with kids and teach. I am not against change and progress. In fact I think that I am rather forward thinking with some things. The cycle of education is always spinning but never really changing, and it really is scary sometimes.
Those reasons stated above and others made me take a step back and take a look at the full picture. I will always have a passion for the Family and Consumer Sciences content that I taught during my teaching career. I will always remember the relationships that I built with my students and co-workers fondly. But in my heart, knowing it was time for me to take a step back was the best thing that I could do for my personal well being. And I think, it doesn't make me a bad teacher, it just makes me smart and lucky.
I have been subbing and it has been pretty relaxing. I just can't let myself get caught up in past and new politics. I have to let it go and enjoy that I only have the here and now to worry about.
Man that feels Good!
With love your former FACS teacher.
Jane
Most everyone asks me how I am doing. Do I feel bad? Do I miss it? Do I regret it? On and on the questions go. I pause because I do not fell bad, I do not miss it and I do not regret it? Then I begin to wonder, if I don't feel bad, I don't miss it and I don't have regret was a bad teacher for wanting to leave early?
I hope not. Because while I was in education I did care about the children that I worked with and I made friendships that I will always remember and embrace. I had often said, "I just want to teach. I do not want the politics of education." Those feelings of never getting caught up, from former paper work, turned into computer work that was suppose to make a life easier started giving me anxiety. I am a girl that used a telex for communication during high school. We had to go to the library to type our papers with erasers and white out during college. Everything I learned on the computer was pretty much self taught and I really do love technology but not all of the programs made sense or my life easier. I had 5 different programs that "made everything easier". An example of a waste of time would be my collaboration group. We spent so much time figuring out how to record what we did last year that we only got things recorded. (We were not the only ones.)
My point from all of this whining is that teachers need a break. I know it is important to measure kids progress but if teachers have to spend so much time to figuring out how to measure they will not have time to do what they do well and that is relate with kids and teach. I am not against change and progress. In fact I think that I am rather forward thinking with some things. The cycle of education is always spinning but never really changing, and it really is scary sometimes.
Those reasons stated above and others made me take a step back and take a look at the full picture. I will always have a passion for the Family and Consumer Sciences content that I taught during my teaching career. I will always remember the relationships that I built with my students and co-workers fondly. But in my heart, knowing it was time for me to take a step back was the best thing that I could do for my personal well being. And I think, it doesn't make me a bad teacher, it just makes me smart and lucky.
I have been subbing and it has been pretty relaxing. I just can't let myself get caught up in past and new politics. I have to let it go and enjoy that I only have the here and now to worry about.
Man that feels Good!
With love your former FACS teacher.
Jane
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