Let Fourth Graders and John Hunter Teach Us World Peace

For 35 years John Hunter has been developing a world and every single figurine is a critical part of a world that exists only in Hunter’s mind. He discusses the many issues and crisis that beset four fictional countries. The classroom of John Hunter is filled with students in the fourth and fifth grade. But there are things that do not usually belong to a classroom as well. There is a structure that is full of submarines, spy planes and soldiers as well as model cities and oil rigs.

World Peace Game

John Hunter had devised a game, the objective of which is to “achieve world peace.” For students to win in the game they need to be together in order to succeed. Climate change, poverty, the threat of nuclear annihilation and war are some of the issues that are presented to Hunter’s grade school students. Hunter is now famous for his World Peace Game — a method of teaching young peacemakers that he himself has developed and honed through the years. He has done TEDTalks and somebody has even made a documentary about him. He is considered by many a visionary teacher.

Hunter has won many awards for his services as a teacher and educational consultant. He also has artistic leanings that he uses in teaching his students the lessons he wants them to learn.

Spreading the word

Hunter has been a guest at the Pentagon and the United Nations where he explained the virtues and lessons of the game. Now, Hunter has written a book called “World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements.” This inspirational book features stories and anecdotes with the purpose of sharing his experiences in teaching the game to young people. Hunter has plenty of wisdom to spread around.

For one, he shares that his work with students teaches him many things. Children, he says have open hearts and open minds and this gives them the ability to solve problems in ways that are thrilling and amazing.

Fostering compassion in the young

Hunter shares that his students keep finding different ways to lessen the suffering in his made-up world. He says that the best lesson that he has learned from his students is that they keep discovering ways to show compassion. “Compassion is the basis of everything.” Hunter believes that compassion is a key element in the education of children and fostering it is a complex process.

Hunter’s approach to fostering compassion is rather complex as well. But he is sure about the elements that promote compassion such as treaties, compromise, negotiations, including willingness to find the answer. Real-life knowledge is also essential. He insists that children possess wisdom and insight and Hunter does not believe in the usual practice of adults hiding things from children in order to protect them.

Hunter’s approach is unique. He exposes young students to the harsh realities of the world but he does so very carefully and never forgets that he is still dealing with children. When he plays the game with his students, he uses real-world news articles and reinterprets these articles relevant to the game’s purpose. He modifies the names and locations. According to Hunter, fictionalizing is one way of assuring that children do not just copy the reaction of their parents to current events.