Students from eight high schools around Long Island, totaling 140 students, participated in this year’s two-day Model United Nations Conference at Sachem High School North on Friday and Saturday.
Students debated on various topics in assigned sections from The Arab League, World Health Organization and General Assembly to the Economic and Social Council, UNICEF and Security Council. This year saw the addition of The Historical Security Council where students debated issues all in the pre-1979 era.
“It’s the best experiential learning I’ve seen so far in social studies,” said Sachem teacher and Model UN co-advisor Dr. Georgia Afxendiou.
The Model UN club has built a strong following at Sachem North, with dozens of underclassmen being recruited each year to join and experience something that offers an advanced view on societies pressing international issues.
“It’s an atmosphere you don’t really get to see in school,” said Peter Amato, a Sachem North senior who served as Co-Secretary General of Sachem’s conference. “It’s not just a teacher teaching you, it’s seeing ideas come to fruition from kids who are allowed to participate in debate and see how world leaders discuss and face issues we are really faced with.”
Dr. Afxendiou said students represent specific countries in their discussion areas, and they are strategically picked. It mirrors the strategy and tactics of standard game play, but for academia.
While Sachem East, who made the trip to North for the first time this year, just started its Model UN club, North has made its rounds on Long Island and will again travel to Johns Hopkins University later next week to take part in a larger conference with schools from around the world.
Kevin Miller, another co-advisor for the club at North, said the skills learned through Model UN are helping lay the groundwork for students who eventually develop into doctors, lawyers, professors and other important positions in society.
“It’s going to be these kids 30 years from now who are going to be running everything,” he said.
Ashley Brill, the other Co-Secretary General, agrees.
“The issues their solving in the committees could be the answers to the issues that are out there in the real world,” she said.
-Words and Photos by Chris R. Vaccaro