About: With political, economic, and environmental uncertainty at the world's doorstep, how do we ensure that future generations approach these problems with grace and understanding, rather than violence and hatred? Join us as John Hunter, creator of The World Peace Game, discusses the creation and mission of the game and his hopes for the future.
The World Peace Game is a hands-on political simulation that gives players the opportunity to explore the connectedness of the global community through the lens of the economic, social, and environmental crises and the imminent threat of war. The goal of the game is to extricate each country from dangerous circumstances and achieve global prosperity with the least amount of military intervention. As “nation teams,” students will gain greater understanding of the critical impact of information and how it is used.
A native Virginian and graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, John Hunter is an award-winning gifted teacher and educational consultant who has dedicated his life to helping children realize their full potential.
During his university years, he traveled and studied comparative religions and philosophy throughout Japan, India, and China. It was while in India, the cradle of Gandhian thought, that Hunter, intrigued by the principles of non-violence, began to think of how his profession might contribute to peace in the world.
Knowing that ignoring violence would not make it go away, how could he teach peace in an often violent world? Accepting the reality of violence, he would seek to incorporate ways to explore harmony in various situations. This exploration would take form in the framework of a game – something that students would enjoy. Within the game data space, they would be challenged, while enhancing collaborative and communication skills.
In 1978, at the Richmond Community High School, Hunter led the first sessions of his World Peace Game. Over time, in a synchronous unfolding with the growing global focus on increasingly complex social and political conditions, the game has gained new impetus. As Hunter succinctly explains, “The World Peace Game is about learning to live and work comfortably in the unknown.”
For more information, visit worldpeacegame.org.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 21, 2023. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and the lecture will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m.
Ticket Price: $10 per person. This program is free of charge to teachers, administrators, and school faculty upon presentation of an employee ID badge.
Ticket Information: Register online or by calling the Barns of Rose Hill Box Office at 540-955-2004 (Noon to 3:00 PM – Tuesday through Saturday). When our Box Office is closed, please leave a message. All sales are final.