Williamson and fellow student John-Michael Spangler of Issaquah traced historical events through the dispersal of chocolate throughout Europe, to the chocolate houses in London and to the common people in Austria. Although studying history through chocolate sounds like a sweet assignment, the development of chocolate does parallel the rise of the middle class, Scott said, as well as other milestones in Western culture. For instance, the Industrial Revolution helped smooth the way for the first chocolate factory, opened near Paris in 1824. It was a chocolate that kept well and was portable. The small school has no building and meets for tutorial sessions in locations such as bookstores, libraries, nursing homes and coffeehouses.
Computers keep everyone connected.
Scott explained his idea of history through chocolate, and the recipe for a five-session tutorial was finalized. I wanted the students to learn things.