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Students and faculty participated in several of the 13 workshops, focusing on a variety of issues, such as water shortages, philosophies on conflict resolution, the debate between evolutionary science and intelligent design, mediation and producing local solutions to major global problems.

Press the triangular play button to listen to select clips of some of the workshops.

Conflict in Sports: The Playing Field As A Political Weapon

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Ms. Turlish gave an overview of the Olympics throughout history, and how the games have often been an arena in which geopolitical conflict plays out.

China and Capitalism

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Ms. Smit discussed the complex relationship between the United States and China, as well as China's current attitude toward censorship on the Internet.

U.S. Healthcare: What's Hurting?

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Hannah D. '10 and Zoe H. '11 helped students and faculty understand the issues surrounding health care reform in the United States.

The Evolution-Intelligent Design Debate

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Mr. Ahern's workshop focused on the conflict between evolutionary science and intelligent design.

The United Nations and Understanding Pakistan

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Juniors Kara G. and Andrea S. explained the political and social dynamics of Pakistan in their student-led workshop.

For Grades 8-12, the 14-year civil war in Liberia became the focus of three assemblies. After viewing the documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell, students had an opportunity to engage with the award-winning director, Gini Reticker. She shared her yearlong experience in making a movie about the inspiring grassroots activism of women who brought a peaceful end to the turbulent civil war in Liberia.

In another assembly, Spence parent Jordan Ryan P'12, U.N. National Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, also talked about his peacekeeping work in Liberia. Ryan broadened the discussion to reflect on conditions that fuel global conflict and proactive ways that the U.N. is mitigating the root causes of violence.

Students in Grade 10 visited third graders to focus on a conflict closer to home: Conflict on the Lower School terrace. What do you do when someone is left out of the group or when a friend is wrongly blamed for something she had not done? Each third grader wrote an essay about "Conflict on the Terrace," and at the end of the day, a few had the opportunity to present their essay at a town hall assembly.

Sade P. was one of three Lower Schoolers to speak at an assembly with students in Grades 8-10. She talked about an occasion when she was blamed for knocking down "Susie Spence's" science project, and how that conflict came to a peaceful resolution. One of Sade's resolutions was to "always stick up for someone else."

Grade 6 took advantage of the day to visit the United Nations. There, they learned how the world has dealt with conflict historically, how we're currently recovering from conflict, and how we're acting to prevent conflict in the future.

The tour of the historic building began with an overview of the United Nations -- who are members, what the Security Council does, and what are the long-term goals of the United Nations.

Later, students learned exactly what efforts the U.N. is making to ensure basic human rights, such as clean water and education, for everyone. In addition to learning how the U.N. is trying to make conflict less likely, the girls also saw just how difficult it is to clean up past conflicts. The students saw examples of defused land mines, and how easily they blend into a landscape, making postwar reconstruction a difficult task.

Madeleine M. found great value in the field trip. "To really understand what a UN peacekeeper does, or what happens in an emergency Security Council meeting and how the six majors rotate -- now I have such a better idea of what these mean," Madeleine shared. "My whole family loves to watch the news together." She especially appreciated that the Teach-In gave her "one more thing I can discuss with my parents."

The discussion of conflict continued when U.S. Senator and Spence Parent George Mitchell conversed with juniors, seniors, parents, faculty and staff at the 2010 Head's Forum, a program started in 2008 as a way to provoke thought and examine issues from new points of view.

Senator Mitchell spoke about his work in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland in the late '90s and his current efforts as the special envoy in the Middle East before taking questions from both a student panel and the audience.

The evening's conversation, while focusing on peace seeking and negotiation, also provided a personal glimpse of a man with an abiding commitment to peace. He concluded the evening with a special charge to Spence students. Excerpts of Senator Mitchell's presentation may be viewed in the media player above.