Jonathan Cates

I began to establish a Model Arab League program at the School Without Walls in December 2000, to participate in the National MAL that April.  First I approached a teacher who was interested in being the team’s school sponsor and placed a sign up sheet-display in a centrally located bulletin board.  Along with the sign-up sheet I included a flyer I designed which explained the MAL and gave a time and place where an introductory meeting would be held. It included name, grade, where they could be located, and an email address or phone number.  For me, this was putting my school's philosophy into action, and going beyond education to the challenge of a chance to take leadership.  At this first meeting I introduced MAL coordinators Melissa Matthews and Michele Morelli who elaborated on the MAL’s purpose and procedure.  First the first months I conducted meeting once or twice a week, usually divided between established members and newcomers.

We started with a very general overview of the structure of the Arab League and the history of the Arab World with emphasis on our country, Oman.  We focused on the ways in which Oman was distinctive from the rest of the Arab world, including social insulation, maritime tradition, Omani East African empire, and Ibadism - its unique form of Islam.  Modern history was stressed more as it leads directly into current political, economic, social, and security affairs.  Map study is helpful, too, as it can illustrate population, resources, and history of certain regions of the country; we used a large detailed map of Oman and its immediate neighbors.  Once committee assignments were made, members of the team began to do research on their respective areas and share with each other what they had learned that was relevant to the others.  I made copies of pages from specialty books, internet resources, or statistical or abridged material that could provide quick reference and handed them out to be read or supplement other reading.  Relating the past to the present is especially important since many institutions such as the power of the hereditary Sultanate, Islam as the state religion, or other social or cultural institutions that cannot be understood in a completely modern context.  For this reason a study of Islam, especially as it is practiced in the country, is valuable. 

Parliamentary procedure study was supplemented with group study of terms and their meanings, an instructional video, and occasional practice Model Arab League simulations during the last two months before the actual model.  Affairs groups should also be assigned or chosen early in the process.  New members were attracted throughout the first part of training by announcements and flyers posted around school.  The embassy visit was very informative and provided answers in a direct way that would have been difficult to find elsewhere.

The model itself was a terrific educational experience, and the entire team from Schools Without Walls enjoyed gaining new wisdom, new friends, and a new understanding of a different part of the world. 

As of 2004, Schools Without Walls has participated in four consecutive National High School Model Arab Leagues, and dozens of their students have grown in leadership and experience.  To learn more about being involved in the Model Arab League, click here.

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