When John Hunter started teaching more than 30 years ago, he wanted to get his students to think about major world issues.
So he invented the World Peace Game. Students are divided into countries, then Hunter gives them a series of global crises — natural disasters, political conflicts — that they solve by collaborating with each other.
Hunter’s classes are remarkably successful at resolving the crises peacefully, a fact made all the more remarkable because his students are in 4th grade.
Hunter recently sat down for StoryCorps with a two former World Peace Game players: 11-year-old Julianne Swope and 20-year-old Irene Newman.
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Piece Description
When John Hunter started teaching more than 30 years ago, he wanted to get his students to think about major world issues.
So he invented the World Peace Game. Students are divided into countries, then Hunter gives them a series of global crises — natural disasters, political conflicts — that they solve by collaborating with each other.
Hunter’s classes are remarkably successful at resolving the crises peacefully, a fact made all the more remarkable because his students are in 4th grade.
Hunter recently sat down for StoryCorps with a two former World Peace Game players: 11-year-old Julianne Swope and 20-year-old Irene Newman.
Broadcast History
NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, 12/25/11
Transcript
Julianne Swope (JS): Sometimes World Peace Game feels like, you know, the weight of the world on your shoulders. This is exploding over here, this is firing over there, this is spilling oil.
And, I just look at the board and, uh, I say to myself, "Oh my gosh, I need to fix this."
And, you, Mr. Hunter, you are always saying, "There's only one thing I'll say when you make these decisions: know the consequences."
And I think that's actually pretty fair and that should apply in real life, too.
What do you hope we learn from the World Peace Game?
John Hunter (JH): I think how to make people not suffer so much.
JS: Yeah.
JH: I think I now hope the game also helps people be more compassionate and kinder.
JS: That's what I've learned. That no matter where you're from, your background, you can still connect with someone else that you've never even met before.
MUSIC
Irene Newman (IN): I'...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Time to check in again with StoryCorps' National Teachers Initiative. Through the end of this school year, StoryCorps is recording the stories of public school teachers across the country.
John Hunter has been teaching in Charlottesville, Virginia for more than 3 decades…
He wanted to get his students to think about major world issues.
So he invented the World Peace Game. Here's how it works… students are divided into countries…
Then Hunter gives them a series of global crises -- natural disasters, political conflicts -- that the students have to solve by collaborating with each other.
Hunter's classes have been playing the game since 1978… and they have been remarkably successful at resolving the crises peacefully… a fact made all the more remarkable because his students are in 4th grade.
Hunter recently sat down for StoryCorps with a two former World Peace Game players…
The first was 11-year-old Julianne Swope.
OUTRO:That's John Hunter, inventor of the World Peace Game, with former students Irene Newman and Julianne Swope at StoryCorps.
Hunter is currently playing the game with 4th graders at Agnor- Hurt Elementary School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Learn more about the game AND StoryCorps' National Teacher's Initiative at NPR dot ORG.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back to Wisconsin | Cranston | Broham's Trilogy. | FMA | 2010 | 00:22 |
| El Tranvía | Jenifer Avila | Best of Breitband Vol. 2. | FMA-Limited | 2010 | 00:22 |
Additional Credits
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, American Graduate
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