| The United Nations Association of the United States of | | | | prepared for tomorrow. The younger the child, the |
| America (UNA-USA), along with New York-based | | | | more open minded he or she will be. |
| Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., has brought the Model United | | | | Another speaker was Shaun King, former quarterback |
| Nations to Tampa schools. Originally, only four high | | | | for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, current player for the |
| schools were participating and only as an | | | | Detroit Lions, and a favorite with Tampa schools' |
| extra-curricular activity. Now, over 50 teachers teach | | | | students. Like Luers, King wants to see young people |
| the Global Classrooms curriculum to students in over | | | | use all that talent they have. He believes it truly makes |
| 120 classrooms in 35 Tampa schools. The program | | | | a difference, especially for children of single-parent and |
| has the supported of Tampa schools District Social | | | | or disadvantaged families. |
| Studies Supervisors Dennis Holt and Martha Ford, as | | | | The UNA-USA is a not-for-profit organization that |
| well as Tampa schools administrators, University of | | | | develops innovative programs to engage Americans, |
| South Florida, and University of Tampa. | | | | especially the children, in issues of global concern. It |
| The Model United Nations program of Global | | | | promotes educational and humanitarian campaigns, as |
| Classrooms was developed by the UNA to enhance | | | | well as policy and advocacy programs. The UNA's |
| student understanding of international issues. Their | | | | mission is to allow people to make a global impact at a |
| hope is to develop strong leadership and critical-thinking | | | | local level. |
| skills in our youth, needed to shape a globally informed | | | | The Model UN program would not be possible without |
| workforce in the future. To that end, a special Model | | | | the support of business. Merrill Lynch has donated |
| UN teachers training program was recently developed | | | | more than $37 million in 2005 to charities with |
| that includes global trade, finance and development. | | | | educational organizations receiving more than half. |
| Global Classrooms deal with such critical world issues | | | | They are responsible for bringing the April Model UN |
| as human rights for refugees, prevention of nuclear | | | | conference to Tampa and underwrote the cost of |
| terrorism, global economics, post-conflict transition, and | | | | implementing the program in the Tampa schools. |
| UN Security Council reform - the same issues world | | | | Together, the UNA and Merrill Lynch hope to bring the |
| diplomats deal with daily in the United Nations. It is an | | | | Model UN experience to urban public schools across |
| excellent educational opportunity for students in the | | | | the nation, as well as a diverse array of schools |
| Tampa schools. | | | | around the world. |
| Tampa schools participation increased in the Model UN | | | | It is a fact that the U.S. is losing its world economic |
| program after the April 2006 conference, held at the | | | | edge by falling far behind other countries in preparing |
| Tampa Convention Center. More than 500 high | | | | its youth for the global world issues of tomorrow. With |
| schools and 600 middle schools participated in the | | | | programs, such as the No Child Left Behind that |
| conference of Global Classrooms. | | | | concentrates only on reading and mathematics skills, |
| Ambassador William H. Luers, president of the | | | | the children of the U.S. are missing an opportunity to |
| UNA-USA, addressed the Tampa schools students | | | | know about the world and its issues. Bringing the Model |
| and students from other areas within the Hillsborough | | | | UN program to students in areas like the Tampa |
| and Pinellas County Public Schools. Luers noted that | | | | schools is an essential step. Hopefully, more Tampa |
| children today must learn about the world to be | | | | schools will participate in the future. |