Posted on 04/18/2004 7:43:33 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand
The other day a 13- year-old girl in my class approached me with a question I never thought she would ask - about the cultural and political differences between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in Iraq.
She wondered why American leaders were focusing on whether 9/11 could have been prevented, while a radical Shiite cleric may be planning new attacks on Americans. My student went on to offer suggestions on how the situation should be handled.
It was not simply her interest in international issues that got my attention, but that this student had shown little interest in reading, let alone reading news articles on global events, prior to her participation in a new program at our school called Global Classrooms: Model U.N.
Model U.N. allows students to step into the shoes of delegates of U.N. member states as they engage in simulated meetings of the General Assembly and other deliberative bodies of the United Nations. The primary beneficiaries of Model U.N. are traditionally private and better suburban public school students. Global Classrooms is distinct from other Model U.N. programs because it adapts the curriculum to urban public schools and provides teachers with tools to engage our students.
As my students and I prepare to participate in the Tampa Bay Model U.N. conference, beginning today, I am confident that this involvement in international affairs and culture will have a significant impact not only on their lives, but also on their future contributions to the larger community.
Americans engage in endless discussion about problems with public education, including low achievement and lack of enthusiasm for learning. There is debate about various education models, but it is clear that improving education begins with engaging students.
Imagine the possibilities for students who have cared little for the world beyond their experience but then become Model U.N. delegates.
By learning about a country or region other than their own, students strengthen their connection to the larger world. When students feel they can make a difference, something as simple as reading the newspaper or watching the news takes on a new meaning.
In the months that I have been using the curriculum, I have seen students acquire a range of skills, including problem-solving, Internet research, writing and public speaking. Skills gained through Global Classrooms: Model U.N. extend beyond the strictly academic. Our public school students are learning negotiation, conflict resolution and civic responsibility. Participants are developing the means to become informed, active global citizens. I can think of no better way to prepare these children for the complex global society they will inherit and shape.
Margie Dennie is a seventh-grade geography teacher at Orange Grove Middle Magnet School in Tampa.
Is the curriculum subversive to the Constitution of the United States?
And there remains, of course, the issue of the formative, captive audience that is American public school children. Who on earth gave the UN permission to immerse them in a pro-UN role playing scheme? Have their parents approved?
Not So! Part of being a citizen of this great land is the privilege of dissenting in the public square (or classroom). I dare you to do it, with flair, dignity, charity, and chutzpa!
Liberals do not need, or ask, permission to warp your kids' minds. Screwing them up is, in fact, the liberals' most holy mission. The idea is to dumb children down to the intelligence level of a rotted turnip, warp their moral instincts and alienate them from all legitimate authority, especially parents'. Then the kids will be defenseless slaves of the liberal state and permanent fodder for the IRS.
Why not? I shoved a resolution through at a regional conference that defunded the sucking tar pit known as UNESCO - the only thing I regret is that I didn't go for the whole works ;)
Model U.N. allows students to step into the shoes of delegates of U.N. member states...
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Does this mean the kids get to pose as socialist despots who starve their populations and demonstrate against the U.S. while they gladly take our foreign aid to pad their private Swiss bank accounts? |
I only remember it because its boosters, a tiny number of idealistic students who would today be numbered among "the usual suspects," saw to it that its endless meetings, caucuses, special committies, and bake sales were featured as often as possible in the morning announcements during homeroom. Other than that it left no impression on me whatsoever. When the actual "UN Conference" took place I was aware of it only because the school was a little more festooned than usual with posters, banners, and streamers announcing the event.
I think it was mainly an excuse for like-minded boys and girls to be in close proximity without having to sit at desks and listen to a teacher.
(steely)
*If you are African or Muslim, bring your slaves over to work in your Manhattan luxury apartment
*Commit any crime---from speeding in your auto to killing rivals---with impunity because you have diplomatic immunity
*Put all of your family and friends on the payroll as staff members
*Work with Kofi and company to get your share in scams like "Oil For Food"
WOW you mean just like the real UN degenerates lets create more fascist dictators and leaders who crush kill and maim anyone who disagrees with them we need more thieves to steal monies traded for oil and food for whatever commodity
Well at least they may be learning how to spell ! Two faced leaders who speak of peace and the whole time are killing there own who agree and write resolution after resolution that come to no conclusion but to write another resolution !and then do nothing about any resolution but cry when the other thieves and murderers don't fall in line with more resolutions !
Blah, blah, blah. What a load of bunk.
The old "Model UN" just never dies.
And, as pointed out in the posts above, the kids don't learn anything.
Back in the Stone Age when I was in school we had all sorts of "clubs" as part of the curriculum. But the point of the clubs was to ram "Roberts Rules of Order" into our pea-brains (a worthwhile goal).
Whether we were raising money for an ice cream party or voting to have one extra recess a month, the teachers didn't really care -- the concepts of structured, well-mannered, and well-documented meetings were the point.
The problems to solve were real to us and grew in importance and complexity as we grew older.
Now, if the "actors" in a model UN were truly educated about the goals of each country, the game might be worthwhile.
The Cuba delegation would understand that their goal is to block the U.S. from doing anything.
The Europeans would know that their all-consuming goal is to gain new export markets without allowing any new imports.
And the Americans would realize that their role is to fend off the entire rest of the world who wants more of our money.
Or perhaps a model UN that is debating the Cuban missile crisis -- studied in detail ahead of time so that each country's position was well-understood.
Then this little charade might have a purpose beyond trying to convince these kids that mob-rule can solve any problem in a perfect world.
IMHO.
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