Listen to a recording of this panel discussion!

WORLD PEACE AND OTHER 4TH-GRADE ACHIEVEMENTS interweaves the story of John Hunter, a teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his students’ participation in an exercise called the World Peace Game. The game triggers an eight-week transformation of the children from students of a neighborhood public school to citizens of the world. The film reveals how a wise, loving teacher can unleash students’ full potential.

The film traces how Hunter’s unique teaching career emerges from his own diverse background. Hunter teaches the concept of peace not as a utopian dream but as an attainable goal to strive for, and he provides his students with the tools for this effort. The children learn to collaborate and communicate with each other as they work to resolve the Game’s conflicts. They learn how to compromise while accommodating different perspectives and interests. Most importantly, the students discover that they share a deep and abiding interest in taking care of each other. WORLD PEACE AND OTHER 4TH-GRADE ACHIEVEMENTS will inspire others by documenting the unheralded work of a true peacemaker.

Following this one-time showing at the Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St., will be a panel discussion with Dr. Debora B. Wisneski, UNO John T. Langan Professor in Early Childhood Education; Michael Fryda, 2010 Nebraska Teacher of the Year and Spielbound Teacher Outreach Coordinator; and moderator Kaleb Michaud, Spielbound Chief Executive Officer.