Most teenagers are too concerned with cars, clothes, or getting a date to the next dance to pay attention to international affairs. Not the students in Genia Allen-Schmid's Global Village class - at least not during third period on Oct. 5, 7, and 8.
For three days, the students gathered in the office conference room to hold a peace summit to debate proposals to solve the Middle East conflict.
"The kids were role playing the major parties in the Middle East conflict to get an idea of what's going on," said Allen-Schmid. "This way they understand why peace is taking so long to come."
The groups represented included the Palestinian and Israeli moderates and extremists, Jewish Zionists and moderates and Egyptians.
"Some kids were getting really angry and frustrated," said Allen-Schmid. "When it's all over I want to debrief them and talk about how they felt and why it was so frustrating."
The students did a lot of research by reading, watching films, and listening to lectures. They put together massive portfolios and came up with realistic proposals based on their research.
"I want them to be able to use the information that they've learned and learn to debate and defend their positions," said Allen-Schmid. "That's really what I'm after."
The classes simulated the peace talks held at the White House between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Israel that attempted to resolve age-old conflicts.
Jewish people were given a section of Palestine as a homeland in 1948 after the Holocaust, and in the 1967 Six-Day War, more of Palestine was brought under Israeli control, displacing many Arabs. In 1993, the Peace Accords were agreed upon, but there has been little follow-up in Israel and Palestine.
"In the 1993 peace agreements, the Palestinians were offered the whole Gaza Strip," said senior Jennifer Mansir. "Now, if they settle for a third less, it will hurt their pride."
The students debated important issues such as terrorism and land ownership.
"Terrorism is always going to happen. But I think if each side makes an effort to stop it, then the other side should acknowledge that," said senior Mike Tuszynski. "If they're trying to stop it, then that's as good as it's going to get."
After spending the period debating the proposals, the students would change their proposals to make them work.
"We'll try to hash out a proposal that everybody will like, but I'll be really surprised if they come
to an agreement," said Allen-Schmid. "Then again, who knows? Maybe they'll solve the whole
crisis."