there is nothing i like more than sanctioned competitions in prisons that involve knives!
that's right riker's island hosted a cook-off (a-la bravo's "top chef") between teams of incarcerated inmates between the ages of 16 and 21. (a separate evening program also teaches kitchen techniques to women over 21). the competition was an opportunity to showcase the cultivated culinary prowess acquired from a behind-the-bars cooking program called island academy. the 60 girls who attended have been locked up for drug offenses, according to department of education. mark sauerhoff, who has taught at island academy for the last 11 years, says its main goal is to "change these kids' lives -- not just to teach them cooking."
and what do our julia childs' of cell block c think of the experience? students said that the class has taught them invaluable lessons about patience and teamwork. nineteen-year old aisha (who is set for release tomorrow after an eight-month incarceration from what she says stemmed from a fistfight) told the new york post "[the program] changed my attitude and my perspective on life." her first order of business come monday? to get a state-issued id card and then on tuesday, enroll in a cooking program at manhattan's co-op tech. "when i went to court [for sentencing] they called me a 'menace to society...now if i went in, they wouldn't feel the same, because i'm not a bad person."
but what about the food? harlem restaurant owner and judge melba wilson praised the entrees of sautéed tilapia with lemon caper sauce versus barbecued salmon with ginger cole slaw. ultimately it was ruled a tie! (come on, would YOU want to tell a bunch of inmates they lost?)
my point, and i do have one is...i have no idea what the cost implications of this kind of a program is, but i think it is good to teach people who may have aggression issues to channel their energies into something positive. that being said, should these prisoners find their way down an even more violent path once they get out, their trained knife skills should make it easier to identify their work later on. what is your point?
Yes, but if they're now trained cooks and they decide to cut you (aka "go all Brooklyn"), they'll at least have the courtesy to use well-sharpened knives. Less tissue damage that way, and quicker recovery (provided you survive). :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great idea to me since it seems that only non-violent prisoners were in the program. Let's face it, they weren't being taught to use a "weapon" that they weren't already familiar with! If it works...bravo! And...Andy, love your "cutting" wit!
ReplyDeletelets face it, prisons in general don't seem to work. many who who go in just re-enter because the prisons don't focus on rehabilitation, instead they just punish. i think programs like this that teach people a skill while they are incarcerated is a great idea! not only does it build important skills like "patience and teamwork" as aisha said, but it also give them a skill to focus on after prison to build a life around. i understand your point about teaching inmates how to work with knives, but every job could be potentially dangerous... firemen works with axes, electricians can electrocute, and plumbers can beat people with plungers! ;)
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