Fairfield, CT -- The Upper Elementary students from Great Beginnings Montessori School of Fairfield is one of several Connecticut schools that are participating in the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN). The other schools participating include the Whitby School of Greenwich and Litchfield Montessori School of Litchfield.
Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization’s agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student delegates give speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the Model UN conference rules of procedure – all in the interest of mobilizing “international cooperation” to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world.
The School's delegates, led by Uppers Elementary teacher, Malcolm Dickinson, will be representing Lithuania. The topics they will debate are peace in the world and advancement of women. In preparation for the summit, students must do in-depth research into the country and topics they will be debating. Participating students will also work on building important life kills such as negotiation and consensus-building. The students will travel to New York City to delegate March 8-10 and, on Saturday, March 11, will be wrapping the event with cultural shows.
For more background, here is link to a video made last year about the Montessori Model UN experience: