British School of Boston Hosts Model UN Simulation

BOSTON-- The plans included a hotel where residents of slums could live and work, tougher restrictions on companies that pollute the world’s air and water, and proposals to improve water quality in some of the world’s poorest nations.

But these discussions were not part of a United Nations meeting, or meeting between world leaders. These were the plans of a group of middle school students, gathered at British School of Boston on Friday for a Model United Nations simulation.

BSB hosted the simulation on Nov. 15, inviting its own Year 7 students and students from other local schools to participate. The event also featured high profile speakers, all diplomatic representatives of UN member nations.

Students, paired up to represent various countries, discussed clean water, climate change and the rise of slums, working together to try to come up with solutions to these issues and learning more about the work of the United Nations. The discussions were led by staff members of the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, who helped students build strong negotiating skills.

As a kick-off to the day-long event, students heard from five members of the Boston-area Consular Corps. The speakers included Jo Adamson, The United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations’ Committee on Disarmament in Geneva; Aaron Annable, Consul for Foreign Policy and Diplomacy at the Consulate General of Canada; Breno Hermann, a longtime representative for Brazil in global relations; Mathias Kruse, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Nobuyuki Watanabe, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Japan.

The diplomats shared stories of their own experiences solving global issues, and shared tips on peaceful negotiations, problem-solving and dealing with conflict. Ms. Adamson spoke about her experiences negotiating at the United Nations.

The diplomatic advice seemed to pay off. In their discussion groups, students came up with many sound solutions to the global issues at hand. From building a hotel in which residents of slums could live and work, to enacting larger penalties for companies polluting our air and water, there were many good ideas shared to help improve daily life for people all over the world.

The event was also great opportunity for students to learn more about the world around them and become better global citizens- a mission that drives instruction at British School of Boston every day.

The British School of Boston uses rigorous international curricula to educate students from toddlerhood through high school at its 40-acre Jamaica Plain site, culminating in the highly sought-after International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB Diploma).

The school attracts students from around Greater Boston and from more than 70 countries around the globe. BSB’s individualized and international approach to education celebrates students’ unique backgrounds, encourages individual strengths, sets personalized goals and involves students in the learning process.