Chef Dave
11-15-2007, 06:03 PM
I am the chef instructor of a high school culinary arts department. In addition to teaching students how to cook and/or prepare for a job in the food service industry, my department operates a school restaurant. Nearly everything produced by the culinary arts students is sold in this restaurant.
For example, during 4th period, my advanced students cooked chicken breasts on a grill. They also boiled egg noodles and made an Alfredo sauce. As our plated special during lunch, we sold grilled chicken pasta Alfredo.
5th period produced carnitas ... pulled pork tacos sold with soft corn tortilla shells with Spanish rice and refried beans. During lunch (which followed 5th period), we offered the tacos as our daily "fast food" item.
Instead of having lunch duty, I supervise the student restaurant during lunch. I have two assistant managers who man the cash registers. Culinary arts students rotate working in the restaurant - either as counter servers who get drinks, pass orders for plated meals to the kitchen, or get desserts which may include baked goods (from the beginning culinary arts students) or ice cream.
6th period comes after lunch. This class is stuck with the task of cleaning the restaurant on a daily basis. Not only do we have pots and pans to clean but counters have to be wiped down along with stoves tops, grill tops etc.
In addition to cleaning the restaurant, my department is expected to empty trash in the "commons" which is a student dining area. Trash also has to be emptied from the three trash cans in the restaurant kitchen and culinary arts lab.
If we had a lot of students, this wouldn't be a problem but due to student schedules, we only have 3 students assigned to 6th period.
Two of these students have chronic attendance problems and are frequently not present to work. My assistant managers and I have had to step up to the plate since the kitchen won't clean itself.
One of the bright spots in my day has been a student whom I will refer to as George which is not his real name. George looks like a very young "Barney Rubble."
He is present every day.
George does not complain on days when he's the only student to show up. He empties trash, scrubs pots, and does whatever we ask him to do with a cheerful smile.
I am told by the building administrator that George has undergone a major change since last year. Last year he had attendance problems. He got into fights at school. He was even on probation with the local juvenile system.
Come this year he continues to skip most classes ... but he has never missed a class with me. He has not been involved in any fights and has not been sent to the office for any type of misbehavior.
I was therefore surprised when George told me yesterday that he wouldn't be coming to class during 6th period. I thought he was joking ... especially since the other two students weren't here and we had a pile of pots and pans in the sink.
While going to the office, I saw George in the commons. He cringed when he saw me. "I told you I wouldn't be there," he said. "I have a doctor's appointment."
I looked at him and said, "George ... you've been with us everyday since the start of the school year. There have been many days when you've been the only student we've had and you've never complained. The least I can do as your teacher is to not complain - especially since you have a legitimate excuse. So, don't worry about it. I hope you have a good visit with the doctor and we'll see you tomorrow."
George's face lit up with a huge grin.
Having seen us talk from across the room, the assistant administrator waved me over. "What was that about?" she asked.
When I told her about our conversation and emphasized the fact that George has been our only reliable student for 6th period, she nodded and told me that George had finally found his niche.
This afternoon when George came to his 4th period class (all advanced culinary students are with me for two periods - either 4th and 5th or 4th and 6th), the assistant administrator was waiting.
"Could I have a word with you George?" she asked.
George swallowed. I could almost hear his thoughts. "What did I do? I've been good. I haven't been in trouble all year."
The administrator had George come to the front of the class and then praised him for all of his hard work. Not only did she thank him for all of his hard work in 6th period but she gave him a complimentary movie ticket to the local cinema.
I wish you could have seen how George's face suddenly lit up in a huge smile. It was a sight to remember.
:)
For example, during 4th period, my advanced students cooked chicken breasts on a grill. They also boiled egg noodles and made an Alfredo sauce. As our plated special during lunch, we sold grilled chicken pasta Alfredo.
5th period produced carnitas ... pulled pork tacos sold with soft corn tortilla shells with Spanish rice and refried beans. During lunch (which followed 5th period), we offered the tacos as our daily "fast food" item.
Instead of having lunch duty, I supervise the student restaurant during lunch. I have two assistant managers who man the cash registers. Culinary arts students rotate working in the restaurant - either as counter servers who get drinks, pass orders for plated meals to the kitchen, or get desserts which may include baked goods (from the beginning culinary arts students) or ice cream.
6th period comes after lunch. This class is stuck with the task of cleaning the restaurant on a daily basis. Not only do we have pots and pans to clean but counters have to be wiped down along with stoves tops, grill tops etc.
In addition to cleaning the restaurant, my department is expected to empty trash in the "commons" which is a student dining area. Trash also has to be emptied from the three trash cans in the restaurant kitchen and culinary arts lab.
If we had a lot of students, this wouldn't be a problem but due to student schedules, we only have 3 students assigned to 6th period.
Two of these students have chronic attendance problems and are frequently not present to work. My assistant managers and I have had to step up to the plate since the kitchen won't clean itself.
One of the bright spots in my day has been a student whom I will refer to as George which is not his real name. George looks like a very young "Barney Rubble."
He is present every day.
George does not complain on days when he's the only student to show up. He empties trash, scrubs pots, and does whatever we ask him to do with a cheerful smile.
I am told by the building administrator that George has undergone a major change since last year. Last year he had attendance problems. He got into fights at school. He was even on probation with the local juvenile system.
Come this year he continues to skip most classes ... but he has never missed a class with me. He has not been involved in any fights and has not been sent to the office for any type of misbehavior.
I was therefore surprised when George told me yesterday that he wouldn't be coming to class during 6th period. I thought he was joking ... especially since the other two students weren't here and we had a pile of pots and pans in the sink.
While going to the office, I saw George in the commons. He cringed when he saw me. "I told you I wouldn't be there," he said. "I have a doctor's appointment."
I looked at him and said, "George ... you've been with us everyday since the start of the school year. There have been many days when you've been the only student we've had and you've never complained. The least I can do as your teacher is to not complain - especially since you have a legitimate excuse. So, don't worry about it. I hope you have a good visit with the doctor and we'll see you tomorrow."
George's face lit up with a huge grin.
Having seen us talk from across the room, the assistant administrator waved me over. "What was that about?" she asked.
When I told her about our conversation and emphasized the fact that George has been our only reliable student for 6th period, she nodded and told me that George had finally found his niche.
This afternoon when George came to his 4th period class (all advanced culinary students are with me for two periods - either 4th and 5th or 4th and 6th), the assistant administrator was waiting.
"Could I have a word with you George?" she asked.
George swallowed. I could almost hear his thoughts. "What did I do? I've been good. I haven't been in trouble all year."
The administrator had George come to the front of the class and then praised him for all of his hard work. Not only did she thank him for all of his hard work in 6th period but she gave him a complimentary movie ticket to the local cinema.
I wish you could have seen how George's face suddenly lit up in a huge smile. It was a sight to remember.
:)