MODEL U.N. OPENS UP WORLD: CALI CALMECAC CLASS GETS COURSE ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS EN ROUTE TO CONFERENCE

For 13-year-old Bryant Hill, school isn't only about sitting quietly, taking notes, solving math problems or memorizing vocabulary words. It's about sharing his opinions on current events and some of the largest issues of the day in a place where everyone's thoughts are valid, welcomed and discussed.

Bryant is one of 30 students enrolled in a Model United Nations class at Cali Calm??cac Language Academy. They spend the academic year learning about world cultures, geography and current and past global political issues. In May, students will act as delegates to the Model United Nations conference in Irvine, representing four different countries as they address issues that come before the real United Nations.

"In our class, we go in depth into history, culture and current affairs," said Bryant. "We get to speak our minds and debate."

Students began the year by learning about the history of the United Nations, then studied Latin America and now, Europe. But a sequential, ordered history of the world isn't the objective of this course.

"As things happen around the world -- in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, wherever -- students present on those events," said teacher Jill Cooper.

"We try to understand each country's or group's background and ideology, and then determine which UN committee would dialogue about the issue. Would it be in the Security Council or the High Commission on Refugees?"

"The UN is such a big organization that can be overwhelming," she said.

Recently, the class debated France's ban on religious headwear. A third of the students were assigned to support the ban, a third to oppose it, and the remaining students were in the middle, willing to be swayed by compelling arguments.

As they would as delegates to the United Nations, students drafted resolutions about the ban.

"Believing that religious freedom is a basic human right," one resolution against the ban begins; "recognizing the diversity of all people and their religious beliefs; deeply disturbed by the ban of wearing religious emblems in French public schools as a violation of basic human rights; the delegation requests that France revoke the ban of wearing religious emblems and recommends that other countries not follow France's decision to ban religious emblems at schools."

That middle-school students command the vocabulary and structure of a UN resolution may come as a surprise to many adults.

Ali Batchelder, 14, thinks that's not the only surprise. "They think we're so centered on ourselves, but we're interested in other things."

Her classmate Diego Hernandez agrees. "I don't think adults have heard us debate our opinions. We're learning to be more open-minded about our thoughts."

"In this class you really get to share your opinion, unlike other classes. No matter what your opinion is, it's worth hearing," added Aliezah Hulett, 12.

They also agree that the class has changed the way they view the world around them.

"It has really opened my mind to the whole world," said Bryant. "It's not all focused on me. It's like you're waking up and you see what's been going on around you forever."

For Cooper, that's what teaching this class is all about. "It's an incredible way to allow the students to really look at nations around the world and to try to walk in the shoes of their citizens."

The course will culminate in May at a Model U.N. summit where students from all over California will gather to represent their assigned countries on the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Security Council and the International Court of Justice. Cali students will represent France, Mexico, Bahamas and Italy.

"The Model U.N. summit is a fabulous opportunity for the students to meet with other students from around the state, work in a professional environment, speak in front of large groups and attend formal dinners attended by foreign dignitaries," said Cooper.

Such an experience comes with a hefty price tag, $1,000 per student, which covers registration, meals, a training in April and transportation to and from the summit in May.

Already the class has hosted car washes, gift-wrapped presents during the holidays and picked up Christmas trees to recycle. On a weekly basis, Model U.N. students sell See's candy around town at Redwood Credit Union, Exchange Bank, Raley's, Safeway and WalMart.

Some upcoming fundraisers include:

* Skate Night at Snoopy's Home Ice from 8:30 p.m to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. The $5 cost includes skate rentals.

* On Saturday, Mar. 10, the Cali Calm??cac PTA will sponsor its 17th Annual Father-Daughter Dinner Dance to benefit the Model UN class. This year's 50's-inspired theme is "It's A Blue Suede Bop." All 5th- through 8th-grade girls and their fathers are invited. The cost is $50 per couple until Feb. 20, then $60.

To learn more about a fundraiser or how you can help support the group, contact Jill Cooper at jcooper@wusd.org.