Being a student of history, I have always had a connection with the study of Sociology. This fascination with the study of human behavior has led me to take notice of my surroundings and how people interact within them. It has also led me to watch a lot of television.
I feel that TV, and to a lesser extend movies, can be a great indicator of how society is changing. Perhaps the greatest example of this comes from an HBO series known as The Wire. What starts, seemingly, as another good guy/bad guy, cops/drug dealer, crime show weaves an incredibly complex story that encompasses all of the various facets of a major American city. In a span of 60 episodes, The Wire explains the world in which we live. From the media, to our educational system, to corruption in politics, The Wire gives us a glimpse of how things really work...or how they don't work. The show, the one with all of the answers is like a lesson in sociology...and it takes place in Baltimore.
The Wire is my favorite TV program. I've watched the entire series four times and I am working on my fifth go around. Because of that strange obsession, I kind of feel like Baltimore is a second home. (That and I am pretty sure that Baltimore's city planners stole a ton of ideas from Boston) Instinctively, I jumped at the opportunity to chaperon a Saugus High School trip to the Johns Hopkins Model United Nations Convention. It is something I've done before and I am excited to be back. As we rode the 95 train out of Boston, I looked over the kids traveling with me and realized that this was the first time they were attending a major conference. They were excited...a little nervous...and when we got there, a little insecure of themselves. There were all sorts of kids getting off of private buses and wearing fancy school uniforms. These kids spoke with big words and carried themselves with an air of superiority. We told our kids that many of these other students are enrolled in Model UN courses. We told them that these kids have been participating for four, or more, straight years. We told them that they could hold their own against anyone at this conference.
At the opening ceremony, one of the Secretaries-General spoke to this point. He told the entire congregation of about 2,000 students that whatever it was that compelled them to attend this conference, and whatever role that they decided to play, they would be in the room as important questions were debated, discussed, and decided upon. They would be in the room. I really liked that phrase. I thought it fitting that he would make this reference and I began to think of the kids from Saugus...attending their first conference. I thought "just being in the room" would be great experience for our kids. I thought that by being in the room, they'd see how it was done and they'd carry those lessons with them into future conferences. That's my fault, however, because I should have realized that our kids wouldn't want to be just in the room. Not our kids from Saugus. They don't want to watch...they want to do.
Ms. Payne and I have been making rounds throughout the different rooms. We are in awe of the level of debate occurring. We have also been impressed with the role many of our kids are playing. Our timing has been impeccable. We have seen nearly half of our conferees speaking within their committee sessions. We have seen committee chairs complimenting our kids and their efforts. We have seen our kids working with those others, who not long before had intimidated them, to complete the tasks assigned to them. One of my favorite experiences was in the WHO committee meeting. The chair of the committee, looking somewhat perturbed, was telling the committee that those who hadn't been speaking were going to be compelled to participate. She then began reading the names of nations who had not been involved....our nation was not on this list. Our student, a freshman, was not called. She had been participating.
The Wire is a show about how society works...and doesn't work. It is also a show about people. As mentioned, it is a lesson in sociology. I didn't quite realize that my students would provide me with another valuable lesson in sociology. I've seen them grow this weekend. They went from insecure and unsure of themselves; kids willing just to be in the room; to confident and courageous young adults. This is the beauty of the Model UN. While most of their discussions are well above my head, the transformation in our students is as clear as possible. I was excited that we were headed back to Baltimore after a hiatus of several seasons, but I am even more excited to see what new episodes lay ahead of us in the upcoming years.
I am sorry for not posting a blog earlier, but we've been busy and there was an issue with me signing up for the internet. We've been tweeting throughout the conference at @history01906 using the hashtag #shs_mun. Ms. Payne has also been tweeting at @Sachemslibrary. I will also try to add some photos into my next blog. I have to re-learn this whole blogging thing before April's trip to Germany. Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoyed the read.
Mr. Lavoie, currently on the 14th floor overlooking the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, and the rest of Bmore.
