Diplomacy is a concept that many people understand in a theoretical way, but is difficult to explain. With the help of GED and US History instructor John Schirmer, students at Springdale Job Corps Center get a hands-on lesson about what diplomacy is and how it affects occurrences around the world.

Diplomacy is a board game originally released in 1959. It is set in pre-World War I in Europe. Each player acts as an ambassador with alliances, betrayals, and negotiations being an integral part of the game play.

“I am a big fan of this game and the skills it helps develop,” John says. “Students develop critical thinking skills, they learn about world history, and they learn how to navigate negotiation.”

The winner of the game is recognized with a certificate and the knowledge they outmaneuvered their opponents. John starts new games several times throughout the year and a game can take up to three or four months to complete. “We don’t sit down and play it like you do other board games. Each round is broken up in to parts and each part is completed in one or two sessions,” he explains.

The skills students develop through after-hours activities like Diplomacy will ultimately help them in their life after Job Corps. “They are fine tuning their ability to negotiate, which can really be a useful skill on the worksite,” says John. “I really hope they’re able to take the fun they’re having with the game and apply it in a broader way.”