Model UN in the Middle School
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Model UN in the Middle School
Jessica Hipp & Kara Steere
This fall, High Mowing School was able to bring its decades-long high school Model UN (MUN) program to grades 7 and 8. In November, nine middle school MUN delegates attended their first conference at Northeastern University in Boston, organized by the UN Association of Greater Boston.
Grade 7 and 8 students were accompanied by Cary Hughes and guided by two high school sophomore teaching assistants. HMS delegates joined approximately 650 other participants from the Boston area, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Our young delegates explored global challenges and showcased their skills in debate and collaboration — some for the first time practicing their public speaking skills.
MUN students learn about the United Nations, diplomacy, and international relations. "I teach the students about the organization of the UN and its processes for addressing world issues," says Cary, who has guided the HMS MUN program since 1989. MUN delegates research and prepare to represent a specific country and to present on current-day topics of importance to the international community. Delegations of two students were assigned per country.
At this conference, the middle school MUN students examined education (representing Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the United States) and climate change (representing Bangladesh and Pakistan).
"In some ways, Model UN is a lot like debate," Cary says, "but rather than a competition, it is cooperative. Students must represent their countries' views on a topic, even if they personally don't agree. They must stay in character the entire time and come up with collaborative solutions working with other countries."
"Model UN develops skills of cooperation, problem solving, and narrative compromise," he continues. "These skills dovetail nicely with Waldorf pedagogy. They represented HMS well on the big stage! We're so proud of their dedication and can't wait to see the impact they'll make!"
- Middle School