Model UN at Woodstock

This past month Woodstock hosted the 5th Annual Woodstock Model United Nations Conference (WSMUN). Four external schools, Doon School (Dehradun), Mercedes Benz International School (Pune), Weinberg Allen School (Mussoorie) and Welham Boys School (Mussoorie), sent delegates to participate in this weekend of debate and coalition building. In total 228 students were involved in the weekend's activities. This number included the twenty-nine external delegates, who filled the Hanifl Centre and a local hotel. The remainder of students involved was made up of Woodstock high school students, half the 7th grade class and the full 8th grade class. Middle School involvement is an important and distinctive element of the WSMUN. Grade seven students are the runners responsible for delivering water and passing notes and grade eight students are welcomed into the MUN fold by participating in their own caucus.

Watching the grade 8 Model United Nations panel was like a watching a United Nations TV drama. Woodstock's young MUN delegates, dressed in their staid though subtly fashionable black and white formals, presented their position papers seriously. What made the panel look like a serious drama was the frantic behind-the-scenes note passing and political collaboration for resolutions. These agreements were not only made during the informal caucuses but also behind the scenes, over tea break. Resolutions focused on the issue of Official Development Aid (ODA), including such issues as diversion of aid money and governmental corruption.

It was apparent to anyone watching that this introduction to MUN for grade 8 students is not only an exhilarating experience but also a nerve-racking one. Delegates are required to address their fellow MUN delegates in clear, loud voices following strict UN protocol. The committee chairs, students from grade 10, 11 and 12, demonstrated a composed but strict professionalism to the younger delegates. By having the entire 8th grade participate without any external delegates, these Woodstock students had the opportunity to learn the MUN process in a less intimidating context. Sometimes the anticipation of the event was the most intimidating part; the Belize delegate commented that, "it wasn't as hard to present as I thought it would be." The deputy chair and rapporteur of the panel, Maynica Sachdev (grade 10), joined MUN in grade 9 and has consistently kept a high level of involvement. Maynica attended the Doon School MUN conference in grade 9 and in September 2008 attended the Dhirubhai Ambani International School MUN in Mumbai. She, along with the other student leaders, officiated at the proceedings with authority and confidence.

Middle School social studies teacher, Dave Boven, supports the MUN process by having students simultaneously focus their research and expand their outlook by requiring the young MUN delegates to represent their nations' authentic political stance. The topic of ODA required students to examine the bigger issues of development aid and the structural problems including impact of aid, dissemination of money, and government corruption. The real-life complexity of giving was introduced to the students.

Participation in WSMUN is compulsory for 8th graders as part of their Social Studies curriculum. Thereafter, students can decide if they would like to continue with MUN as a co-curricular activity in high school. Students who perform well during the WSMUN conference are invited to apply for a position on the Woodstock delegation to other conferences in India and overseas. Students interested in attending an external conference must submit a written application and get their parents' permission. For scholarship recipients costs are reduced through support from the Annual Fund. Last fall 38 students represented Woodstock at four conferences in Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore and Genoa (Italy). While MUN has not yet determined which conferences Woodstock will attend next fall, we are looking at conferences in Chennai and Mumbai, as well as at least one international conference.