United Nations Day

Tomorrow is United Nations Day.

This event was established in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly to observe the anniversary of the establishment of the Charter of the United Nations. The idea, of course, is to promote understanding of the world’s premier deliberative (and sometimes cooperative) body.

International schools around the world love days like this. Celebrations of this sort reinforce the broad philosophy and mission of most schools. Yes, dear Reader, a sound definition of an “international” school is still forthcoming.

One of the most effective active learning programs for high school students is the mock or model United Nations (MUN). There are scores of MUNs around the world today including the largest and oldest outside of the US - The Hague International Model United Nations or THIMUN. This huge event is co-sponsored by The American School, The British School, The German School and The International School – each in and around The Hague in the Netherlands. Some 3,500 students (mind boggling, really) gather each January to debate world issues. I was there (the American School) for eleven years and watched the incredible enthusiasm generated by this event for our students.

Model Parliament, model Senate and model European Union are similar programs.

Here’s to the United Nations … and the teachers who sponsor these remarkable active learning programs.