Monday, July 29, 2013

John Hunter: "World Peace And Other 4th-Grade Achievements"

Monday, July 29, 2013 - 11:06 a.m.
Students play the World Peace Game. - © Will May
Students play the World Peace Game.
© Will May
In 1978, John Hunter was a young teacher looking to make social studies relevant to inner-city kids. What he came up with: a four-by-four piece of plywood on which students attempted to solve the problems of Africa. Over time, this board became multidimensional, growing to encompass nations, prime ministers, the U.N. and the World Bank. The goal is to solve geo-political problems with the least amount of military intervention. And for Hunter, it’s come to represent a philosophy of education. John Hunter joins Diane to talk about “The World Peace Game” and three decades of teaching.

Guests

John Hunter 
teacher, educational consultant and author of "World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements."

Related Links

World Peace Website

Related Items

Image of World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements
World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements

Movie Trailer: "World Peace And Other 4th-Grade Achievements"

TED Talk: John Hunter On Teaching With The World Peace Game

Read An Excerpt

Excerpted from WORLD PEACE AND OTHER 4th-GRADE ACHIEVEMENTS by John Hunter. Copyright © 2013 by John Hunter. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments

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Michele Hemenway wrote:
I used John Hunter's book and film this summer with education majors and they LOVED it, we discussed in depth the importance of the areas John identifies which are so important to us as teachers. Prior to his book release, I used the film and TED talk with my preservice education students and we designed games that meet the standards set by John Hunter.
I first met Mr Hunter online as a TED speaker and later as an education coordinator for Robert Shetterly's portrait series, Americans Who Tell the Truth and I have felt profound gratitude for his approach. IN a system bogged down in testing and what is measured in very narrow ways, he is a beacon for those of us out in the trenches still trying to work with "vastness" and tools 'that might save us all." I love him for his "naive" hope that this can still happen. I could go on and on ... I am so excited he has reached this level of attention because I know that he stands for our children and their right to also experience the "vastness" he speaks of - for their right to have the "joy" he speaks of and so on. Thank you for having him on today and sharing his work with an even broader audience. Perhaps those in positions of power will at last hear this message.
July 29, 2013 - 10:42 am
growin wrote:
I became very choked up listening to the video. Amazing! This is what all teachers dream of seeing in students - that spark of excitement, that feeling of accomplishment, the "high" of igniting those brain cells. So often our schools either just teach information by rote, or when that doesn't work effectively jump straight to "critical thinking skills". Our schools don't seem to be able to put these together effectively. When children have not been able to gather the essential knowledge needed to think critically they become frustrated, when all learning is rote they become bored. You have created a wonderful way for children to experience learning. Though I will be working with younger children this year I plan on getting your book and adapting your ideas.
July 29, 2013 - 11:40 am
ShimonS wrote:
We need to sequester Congress and make them play this game!
July 29, 2013 - 11:48 am
M wrote:
Great insights and great show- thank you!
July 29, 2013 - 11:52 am
EAllemann wrote:
How do I participate in this project? I am a family physician and the mother of a homeschool teenager. Is there a way to bring this game to my community? Can older students be trained to be facilitators (of course playing the game is so important as part of the training)
Elizabeth Allemann, Columbia, MO
July 29, 2013 - 11:53 am
MaryPierceBrosmer wrote:
This integrates everything I've ever learned and experienced about learning-teaching in 40 years of a passionate love affair with this vocation. One aspect of the process I would hold the energy of observing is: lovingly and consciously creating space for girls to have as much voice and power as boys. (This comes from a lifetime of creating open spaces with and for students from middle school through college age.)
Thank you so much Mr. Hunter and Ms. Rheem for bringing this to the world!!!!!
July 29, 2013 - 12:17 pm
Kim Crunkleton Alix wrote:
I regret that I could not attend John Hunter's recent workshop in Charlotte, NC, but will looking forward to gleaning from peers who did attend his valuable message and philosophy. Enjoyed listening to the show today.
July 29, 2013 - 1:32 pm
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