Food Network's "Next" Food Network Star Returns

After the dismal 2013 season of the Food Network's Next Food Network Star which awarded the title to "Paula Dean Wannabe" Demaris Philips, the star-making show that gave us people like Guy Fieri and Jeff "The Sandwich King" Morrow returned tonight with twelve new Food Network hopefuls.  Our celebrity chef hosts Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, and Giada DeLaurentis return to guide the aspiring stars through weeks of trials where they will prove not only their culinary chops but also their star power and the ability to engage an audience in front of a camera. Having that coveted "point of view" which can be marketed is the key. Of course, the primary focus of this opening show is "Can They Cook?" Certainly, time in front of the camera can be awkward and take some practice. But if someone can't cook, that person can't be a star on the Food Network.

In the opening episode, the contestants were given a shot to offer their point of view in a minute or less - and that went well for some and not for others. You would think they would expect this, but it apparently caught some off guard. That said, it's not worth talking about how bad some where. Because the next task was to prepare their own "perfect bite" and then sell it in a red-carpet affair with celebrity host, E's Ross Matthews. This format is an imperative, with some really shining or redeeming themselves, and others struggling to connect. It was a perfect window into the potential of this year.

My personal bias is against the "Cowboy Chef" because while it was clear that he can cook, I am not a fan of the over-the-top, loud and crass personality that reminds me of last year's debacle of a finalist, Rodney "The Pie Guy." I really hope the "farm-to-table" girl Emma gets a chance to re-deem herself, because her message is real, and the hosts were too critical of the all-natural message. It is not too tired or cliche, and we need more press about it. Chris Kyler has a lot of potential, and I am impressed with the food of both Kenny and Chris. But it was definitely time for Donna to go home, and Sarah is not long for the competition.

Can't wait to see how it all turns out. My early predictions are for Loreal and Nicole. Luca and Rubin will be good challengers as well.

Math Teacher Explains Problems with Corporate Education Reform

Are America's schools failing?

That is what many in the education reform movement would like for you to believe. That claim - that US schools are "failing," that we are "falling behind the rest of the world," that American kids are "losing the ability to compete in a global market" has driven the education reform movement since at least 1983 when "A Nation at Risk" was published. And that claim drove the passage of No Child Left Behind, as well as the recent push for Common Core State Standards, PARCC and SB standardized testing, and the Race-to-the-Top school funding (blackmail) initiative. But what if it weren't true? What if it is more complicated than that? What if the proposed solutions do nothing to address, much less solve, the problem?

Mathematics teacher explains the reality in a must-see Tedx speech at the University of Arkansas.

In his criticism of the "toxic culture" surrounding education reform, Joshua Katz asks us to consider the realities behind the claims. The most interesting point for me was the connection to "The Incredibles" theory of villains, whereby a villain actually creates the problem that he will then be the only one who can solve. The idea that corporate education interests exploited the belief that schools were failing in order to push through legislative agendas that allow them to sell more educational materials and tests is not as far-fetched as many might think. For, there are many American schools producing world-class students who do not need new national learning standards and accountability tests in order to perform.

Scripps National Spelling Bee … And a Complete Waste of Time

So, what is the value of knowing words like kneidal, stromuhr, cymotrichus, or guetapens? What is the value in being able to spell them from memory? Especially, when the spell-check on my computer lists them as mis-spelled.

Of course, tonight was the national championship for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is broadcast on ESPN and is the Holy Grail for thousands of families across the nation. This year provided two champions, as two boys outlasted the list, finishing off with words like fueilleton.  Of course, like always, it is the strangest form of entertainment, providing many bizarrely memorable moments like these. This year Ansun Suejoe and Sriram Hathwar shared the championship of a trophy and $30,000 in prize money. And, I guess, the bragging rights.

But why is this worth it? Why does this matter?

As an English teacher of advanced students, and the parent of a gifted child who has advanced far in both spelling bees and math competitions, I have to admit that I can't quite fathom a more inane pursuit than the spelling bee. And don't bother telling me about the cognitive development or the inclusion of the vocabulary component. It is just the most useless form of trivia. And I am not arguing that all educational pursuits should be utilitarian.

But imagine if all the countless hours (and thousands of dollars) spent memorizing obscure and useless words ( most of which aren't even English ) was instead spent developing skills in math and science and the fine arts. What if kids spent the hours learning how to play an instrument or write a symphony or develop their hook shot or swim a faster quarter mile or study ecosystems or … well, you get the point. And, don't even get me started on the prize money. $30K?  Hell, I bet most families of top competitors spend thousands on tutors and travel and more. And the prize money doesn't come close to funding pursuits in college. Perhaps Scripps could pony up a real scholarship. Like maybe four years of in-state tuition for students who can write and develop arguments and feature stories on complex ideas and global issues.

That might be worth my time.

In all honesty, I used to intentionally fail at the spelling bee, so I wouldn't have to stand up in front of the class going through the charade. And that approach has been so perfectly captured by comedian Brian Ragan.

Michelle Obama's Food Fight

Michelle Obama - along with many others - is seriously concerned about America's weight and health problems. And she is committed to combating those challenges by focusing on children. It was with that focus that she led the food fight for increasingly rigorous nutritional standards in the National School Lunch Program. The primary focus of reform of school lunches is on reducing consumption of calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. While this approach/solution seems pretty straightforward to the casual observer, the issue of food quality and its connection to "weight" is far more complicated.

The problem with changes to the food program is, basically, that kids do not want to eat the food, and school cafeterias are losing money. This has led some schools across the country to "opt out" of the school lunch program. And they have made this decision knowing they will lose federal funding for meals and more. The reality is that schools will not stay with a program of meals that kids refuse to eat. And, despite what Michelle Obama likes to claim, students are still throwing away a lot of food. And now legislators are joining the cause, introducing a bill which would allow schools waivers from the new nutritional standards. The movement to delay and roll back nutritional standards is not simply a way of pushing back against the federal government and the Obamas … but it can seem that way.

Yesterday, the First Lady decided to fight back in the food fight. Mrs. Obama sought to make this all about the children, as she noted she will not back down on plans to bring "better" nutritional standards to school lunches. However, the battle over school lunches is not simply a matter of calories, fat, sugar, and salt. And there is certainly no value to serving - even force feeding - food that kids don't want to eat. Certainly, schools need better education on nutritional choices. And they need better offerings in the cafe.

But simply restricting menus is not going to do the trick.

My Commencement Speech - Live Deliberately

Amidst all the commencement speeches making their rounds this May, I offer some thoughts from the original American original, Henry David Thoreau. As part of his Transcendental philosophy, grounded in a rugged individuality and self reliance, Thoreau recommended that above all we Live Deliberately.

School Lunch Program Makes Headlines

As I've almost helplessly watched my blog sit passive for the last month, I've come to realize just how hard it is to blog during the month of May. With AP exams and final units/projects and graduation and graduation parties and new projects for the summer, there has been precious little of value to check out on A Teacher's View.  Yet, I have not been idle, still reading and writing and posting. And, of course, tweeting out ideas on a regular basis.

For a more consistent feed on what ATV is doing, consider following me on Twitter - @mmazenko 

And, I am occasionally writing pieces for Yahoo Voices: Yahoo Voices Profile

Some of the ideas I have been working on and/or following lately are, not surprisingly, food related. As a teacher and administrator, the issues raised by the changes in the National School Lunch Program have been worth watching. Apparently, while most of us weren't looking, the federal lunch program and its new "healthy guidelines" has become quite the political issue.  With new nutritional guidelines making the food choices more restricted and less desirable, some schools have been considering "opting out" of the federal program. In fact, many schools already have, with notable ones being the Arlington Heights district in Illinois and the Waterford School District in Wisconsin.

Paul Ryan is Clueless on Education

Elias Isquith provides an eloquent and well-researched criticism of Paul Ryan's naive thoughts on high school dropouts. For all who would be education reformers, you must read the study from America's Promise Alliance called "Don't Call Them Dropouts."

Thoughts on Food

John Muir is Revolutionizing the Farm-to-Table movement.


Chef Dan Barber has developed an important and far reaching of philosophy of food in The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food.

Don't Go to Law School

"I'm going to law school because I like to argue …"

Blah, blah, blah.

If I had a dollar for every student who ever said he/she was going to law school because they "like to argue" or are "really good at arguing" etc., I would be retired by now. So, as a teacher, and a person who has heard from many attorneys, let me be the one to say, "Don't go to law school."

Effective and successful lawyers are not that way because they "like to argue." Successful lawyers are that way because they are good readers, good writers, good researchers, and very hard working. A person should become a lawyer because he likes to research, not because he likes to argue. For, a good lawyer will research for six weeks to argue for six minutes. In fact, lawyers will most likely never argue. They won't argue because they were so good at research.

But don't take my word for it. Here are/is:

Six Wrong Reasons for Going to Law School  by attorney Tucker Max.

An answer if "You Think You Want to Be a Lawyer" by Jennifer Shaw

The truth about "You Can Do Anything with a Law Degree" by Jim Saksa

Green Smoothies & Sun Salutations

As the weather gets nice, and we wake from our post-holiday winter slumbers, it's time to start some spring cleaning, both physically and metaphorically. It's time to air things out a bit, and from a physical standpoint, it's time to sweep out the cobwebs, and get serious about feeling as fresh and healthy as the late spring weather. Fitness writer and "Mis-fit" Vicky Hallet of the WashingtonPost.com offers two bits of advice for some some spring cleaning of your health:

• Green smoothies as part of a detox plan

• Sun salutations, or basic yoga poses, as a rejuvenator 

In each of these pieces, Vicky offers some basic information on two of the easiest ways to jumpstart your health. Making green smoothies is a great way to get your RDA of healthy veggies, and you can amp up your metabolism and energy with plenty of kale and collards and spices and fruits. The "Green Smoothie" is a must for anyone serious about getting more "real food" into their diet. In the article, Vicky profiles the book and diet plan of nutritionist JJ Smith, who set herself a challenge to "detox." When many friends joined her, she turned the experiment into a diet plan.

And as you take care  of the body, it's imperative to look after the mind and spirit as well. Yoga is the time honored approach to that, and it's an activity and lifestyle that many people wish they could fit into their lives. I know that when life gets a bit stressful, the first thing that goes is my yoga and meditation. And the last thing that should go is my yoga and meditation. So, it's nice to get a reminder every once in a while about fitting a bit of "moving meditation" back into our days. The "Sun Salutation" is in many ways the baseline and the most accessible of yoga routines.

So, it's worth a little bit of yoga and a smoothie to head into the summer in great shape.

Yadier Molina - Best Catcher in Baseball

A catcher on a baseball team is undeniably the field leader. From game management to pivotal playmaking, the man behind the plate must be someone special. And Major League Baseball has had many talented, dare I say brilliant, men wear the mask and the big glove.

But then, there's the St. Louis Cardinals' catcher Yadier Molina 

Post by St. Louis Cardinals.

Best catcher ever? Maybe.

David Lee Roth, King Solomon, Game Theory, & Freakonomics

Many 80's rock fans know the infamous story of Van Halen's contract rider that required bowls of M&Ms with "all brown M&Ms removed." While that seemed to be the perfect example of petulant rock star excess and extravagance, it turns out it was truly clever bit of gamesmanship.

When the M&M clause found its way into the press, it seemed like a typical case of rock-star excess, of the band "being abusive of others simply because we could," Mr. Roth said. But, he explained, "the reality is quite different." Van Halen's live show boasted a colossal stage, booming audio and spectacular lighting. All this required a great deal of structural support, electrical power and the like. Thus the 53-page rider, which gave point-by-point instructions to ensure that no one got killed by a collapsing stage or a short-circuiting light tower. But how could Van Halen be sure that the local promoter in each city had read the whole thing and done everything properly?

Cue the brown M&M's. As Roth tells it, he would immediately go backstage to check out the bowl of M&M's. If he saw brown ones, he knew the promoter hadn't read the rider carefully—and that "we had to do a serious line check" to make sure that the more important details hadn't been botched either. And so it was that David Lee Roth and King Solomon both engaged in a fruitful bit of game theory—which, narrowly defined, is the art of beating your opponent by anticipating his next move.

This example of "Game Theory" is at the heart of the latest book of scientific insight from the brilliant mind of Freakonomics author Steven Levitt, along with Stephen Dubner. Levitt and Dubner are so apt at mining the research of things like Game Theory that they have been able to squeeze a third book out of their information on the laws of economics that impact our lives in ways we never imagine. And, now, with the book, Think Like a Freak, they are offering new insight and advice on how to game the world by "tricking the guilty and the gullible into revealing themselves."

Like their other books, and like many of the other "Ideas Gurus" like Gladwell or Pink out there, Levitt and Dubner have example after example and anecdote after anecdote of the many ways people have learned to game the system.