If you could add a subject to the high school curriculum, which would you choose and why? by Ariana

If you could add a subject to the high school curriculum, which would you choose and why? by Ariana - August 2015 Scholarship Essay

If I could add a subject to the American high school curriculum, it would be Food-Tasting, mainly because I like to eat! The course would be year-long, Food-Tasting I and Food-Tasting II, and would cover the history and development of various cuisine from different cultures. It would give students a chance to learn about the people and cultures of other countries. At the end of each unit, students would taste foods from that ethnicity like one does in a wine-tasting class. This required subject would be a fun way for students to learn about other people and their traditions.

The first objective of Food-Tasting I and II introduces and educates students to different types of foods or cuisine. Americans expect other groups to know and respect American culture, but we often know very little about other cultures especially when travelling abroad. This class would start with an introduction to all of the different cultures already represented in the United States. It would show how important food is to all people no matter their race or ethnicity. This information along with the opportunity to taste various foods at the end of each unit would be a fun way to learn and interact with others.

The second objective of the subject would be to educate students about the history of different foods and how specific dishes originated. While this objective will explain more serious traditions like what “kosher” means in Jewish culture and how the term came about, it would be a fun time to teach how some foods got their names. For example, how did french fries get its name given that it did not originate in France with the French? Or why do we call hot dogs hot dogs when they are neither hot nor look like dogs? Why do we call hamburgers, hamburgers when there is no ham in the burger?

The third objective of this course would be to teach proper food and table etiquette. While many would agree that properly handling and preparing food are very important for health reasons, many young people today ignore or do not have a clue what good table manners are. Good table etiquette has become a thing of the past. Etiquette is essential in being successful in the job market as interviews can take place over lunch or dinner. This information is invaluable to the success of students entering different professions.

Food-Tasting I and II would be the subject that I would add to the American high school curriculum because it would benefit students educationally and socially. Students would gain an understanding of the cultural, historical, and social reasons foods originated or are prepared a certain way. This course would inform and educate people about different cultures in America. Students would see that the people of various cultures are more alike than different. Such interactions could serve as a great opportunity and a fun way to reduce racial and ethnic tensions among different groups of people in the United States.