In many schools, Model United Nations is one of the most popular and well-funded clubs. Students are able to combine their passions for public speaking and global affairs with a fun extracurricular activity that provides them with better awareness and new life skills. This, however, is not a reality for every high school student. Despite the popularity MUN has gained in recent years, some schools don’t have their own MUN teams. I argue that Model UN motivates high school aged students, and is vital to the educational process. Many others agree.
Some students believe that MUN should be encouraged in schools, because of the valuable learning experiences. Sarah Wells of Madison, Wisconsin, a member of her school’s MUN team, is one of these students.
“I learned how to compromise and respect others’ ideas. I also learned how to look at problems from other sides, as the opinions of the countries I have represented in MUN are often different than my own,” Wells said.
For students who go to schools without teams, it can be difficult to find a way to participate in MUN or any other related activity. Jessica Seldner of Eatontown, New Jersey goes to a school that does not have a team, but she participates in MUN at the high school in her district. The experiences Seldner has had in MUN have made her believe that her own school would benefit from having an MUN team. One beneficial aspect is the awareness she has developed from the program.
“I definitely think the MUN program at my home high school was a great club to get involved in,” Seldner said. “The MUN has taught me how to engage with others and solve problems together.”
Cara Wagner of Cincinnati, Ohio also believes that having a Model UN team in her school has made her more aware of the world she lives in, which, in turn, has allowed her to be more cognizant of the struggles faced in other countries.
“I think it is very important for people to learn about different countries, and people, and cultures when they are young because this is the only way we as a society will be able to start truly building connections despite our differences,” Wagner said.
MUN teaches students to research and debate global issues, while taking all sides into account. This provides them with a better awareness of how world issues affect them, and gives them the tools they need to find solutions to these problems outside a classroom setting. By creating MUN teams in schools that do not already have them, these lessons would become easily accessible to all students. Without them, students can miss out on valuable knowledge that can better their futures.
To start a Model UN club, begin talking with your middle or high school administration and gather a group of students who have shown interest, to show how important this is to you. Then, refer to this article for some tips on how to keep it going!
