Starting this fall, Middle School students will be able to put their debate skills to the test, just like their High School counterparts, with the formation of a Model United Nations Club, or Model UN, at the Middle School level. The after school club is designed to be a simulation of the UN, where participants research and debate various current event topics. Although there are around 2,000 schools across Massachusetts that have Model UN programs, there are only a few that are currently in middle schools.
Although specific details haven't been worked out yet, there have been discussions for High School students involved in Model UN to work directly with those participating in the Middle School.
The club meets once a week at the High School and will most likely follow that same format too at the Middle School. During these meetings, students practice their public speaking and discussion skills by having debates about either real current issues, or sometimes funny, made-up ones by taking on a specific role such as a particular country or person in the debate.
The purpose of these debates is to help prepare students for a handful of conferences that they attend throughout the school year, in which students get a chance to debate against other schools from across the globe in a format akin to how the United Nations actually operates. There are conferences specific to students both at the middle and high school level.
Through these exercises, students develop their public speaking, research, and debate skills. However, particularly at the Middle School, those who are apprehensive about public speaking are still encouraged to participate in the club.
Ultimately, the goal of Model UN isn't just about education and debate, but about having fun while doing so.
