Model UN and Mock Congress simulations teach diplomacy, civics
Swearing in of the Mock Congress at West York Area.
High school students in the Model United Nations (UN), under the guidance of Ms. Melissa Carl, facilitated an in-house Model UN conference. Students simulated the UN Security Council, which is comprised of five permanent members (U.S., France, U.K., China, and Russia) and 10 rotating members which currently include Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam. Because the topic related to the current situation in Afghanistan, other countries that are party to, or impacted by, the conflict were also present, including Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. The debate included the legitimacy and recognition/nonrecognition of the Taliban government and ongoing concerns about the operations of terrorists/extremists within and across borders. This debate will continue in a second session that will take place in December.
It’s all about civic education in Mr. Raul Urrunaga’s Political Science classes at the high school! The classes, College in High School (CHS), are part of a partnership between the West York Ares School District and the University of Pittsburgh. Recently, students participated in a Mock Congress simulation. They were sworn in as members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The class created bills, completed oversight requests in their respective committees, and staged a Senate and House floor session where they proposed bills and debated the issues.
