Setting Off to Solve the World's Woes

View article on Washington Post

Pr. George's Students Act as Ambassadors at Montessori Model U.N.

By Avis Thomas-Lester
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 12, 2009; T01

Makaela Jackson, a member of the U.N. Security Council, traveled to New York last week as part of a delegation from Great Britain on a mission to end the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

She debated her issue with ambassadors representing countries from around the world. Then, on the floor of the United Nations in Manhattan, she sponsored a resolution asking that technological research be conducted to create a device to deactivate such weapons.

It was a real-life lesson for Makaela, a sixth-grader at Robert Goddard Montessori School in Seabrook and one of 42 students who made the trip from the school to participate in the Montessori Model United Nations program.

The program drew 600 students from the United States, Canada and the Virgin Islands to New York, where they spent four days performing the duties and responsibilities of United Nations members, said Judith Cunningham, executive director of the Montessori Model United Nations Program.

The students drafted resolutions, argued their countries' positions and negotiated for support with members from other countries, like actual ambassadors. The students spent their final session, March 4, in the General Assembly chamber, where they voted on the resolutions.

"We were an hour late because the [real] ambassadors were in the room, and their session ran late," said Candace Gunn, the parent liaison at Robert Goddard and one of the adults who chaperoned the students. "The students sat in the chairs while they were still warm."

The group from Robert Goddard -- 12 middle school students and 30 fourth- through sixth-graders -- represented seven countries.

Taylor James, a member of the model U.N. Peace Building Committee, presented a measure to raise awareness of child soldiers in Burundi. She said she wanted to educate and offer psychological aid to the youngsters.

Chancie Brown, 9, a fourth-grader, spoke on "the global effort of total elimination of racism and racial discrimination," an issue he discussed on national television. He and his schoolmates encountered "Today" show hosts Meredith Vieira and Al Roker while visiting the outdoor studio at Rockefeller Plaza on March 4. When Chancie asked whether he could explain his issue, Vieira asked him to do so on camera.

Later that day, Makaela's resolution was read by the president of the model U.N. Security Council, a teacher from New Jersey, on the floor of the General Assembly chamber, and it was approved.

"I felt very proud that my resolution was read," said Makaela, 11, of Glenn Dale. "I feel like I did something that helped the world."

The students, teachers and volunteer parents spent months preparing for the conference. The students chose and researched their issues, wrote position papers and drafted resolutions. They also traveled to the District to visit the embassies of the countries they represented.

"They met with representatives and read their position papers, their recommendations and draft resolutions and got actual input from the embassy officials on what they thought would be good for the students to take to the floor of the U.N.," Gunn said. "That was one of the things that was so valuable, that they got real-world advice from the actual embassies."

Makaela went to the Embassy of Great Britain, and Taylor, 13, an eighth-grader, traveled with her committee to the Embassy of Egypt. There, the students were advised to include more information about the political climate near the African nation, including the latest developments in neighboring Gaza.

"The girls came back and changed their speech and included the recommendations," Gunn said.

Goddard's model program was started in the fall by Nicole Stewart, who said she got the idea when her daughter attended a summer program at the United Nations last year. Working with another parent, Anita Brown, and Gunn, Stewart researched the program and approached Principal Suzi Johnson, who was immediately supportive.

Members of the Parent Teacher Student Association threw their support behind the program. Parent Michael Summers and teachers Penelope York and Caryn Oaks signed on to train the students.

"It was a natural fit for our Montessori curriculum," Stewart said. "So, we just jumped into it."

School officials said they had hoped to draw a dozen students, but 42 signed up, including the Stewarts' daughters, Naomi, 11, and Joy, 9, a fourth-grader.

Initially, Goddard parents or guardians paid $150 each to register their children in the program. Then, students and parents participated in fundraisers to raise $25,000 needed for the New York conference.

They held two events at the Barnes & Noble at Bowie Town Center, where the students practiced presenting their position papers while earning a percentage of the take at the cash register. They sold fruit and worked in a student store that featured items donated by community supporters. And they raffled off a week-long time share at a New York hotel, donated by a parent.

The students traveled to New York by bus and stayed at a Brooklyn Marriott hotel, which hosted the program.

When they weren't debating such weighty issues as nuclear annihilation, global warming and the crisis in Darfur, the students got to taste slices of the Big Apple: the Statue of Liberty, the Times Square Toys R Us, which has a giant Ferris wheel, pizza and shopping.

"It was fun," said Chancie, who said he hopes to be a White House chef someday.

The Montessori Model United Nations program was created three years ago, and it is similar to the Model United Nations program for high school students. More than 6,000 students in public and private schools participate in the Montessori version, Cunningham said.

The program alters the way students see the world, she said.

"On the most basic level, they learn about global humanitarian issues," Cunningham said. "They learn about history and the politics of the country they represent, and they have to defend their country's position."

Cunningham said the trip was so successful that she is working with Stewart to organize a regional Montessori Model United Nations conference in the District.

"Coming to New York is very expensive, so the goal is to establish a regional program so students could attend without having to raise a lot of money," Cunningham said. "It would mean that more students will have access."

Goddard parents said the experience was life-changing for their children.

"This is something that they will never forget," said Jackie Corum-Jackson, Makaela's mother. "Getting ready, raising money, doing their research, going to the embassies, traveling to New York and meeting children from so many different places. It's something that many kids never experience."