“Chess is a very addictive
process, a positive drug for children”. R. Keene – English grandmaster.
Could mandatory study of a
board game really help children's academic performance and behaviour?
Every child aged six or
over in Armenia is now destined to learn chess. The authorities there believe
compulsory lessons will "foster schoolchildren's intellectual
development" and improve critical thinking skills.
The country has plenty of
reasons to believe in chess. In Armenia chess
players are sports stars; championships are displayed on giant boards in cities and victories celebrated
with the kind of frenzy most countries reserve for football. Chess is nothing less than a national obsession.
In addition, a two-year
study conducted in the US found that learning chess improves reading test
scores and reading performance in elementary schools, raises IQ scores,
strengthens problem solving skills, enhances memory and fosters creative thinking.
Malcolm Pein, chief
executive of Chess in Schools and Communities, a programme that puts chess into
UK schools, says there are lots of reasons why chess has a positive impact on
primary school children.
"Not only does it give
children good thinking skills and improve concentration, memory and
calculation, but it teaches children to take responsibility for their actions.
"There are also
behavioural attitudes and social attributes to the game too. Children shake
hands at the start, and although it's not deathly silent in classes, it's
reasonably quiet and disciplined."
“Chess is a very universal
and inclusive activity that can be played at all standards”.
"The other outstanding
thing about chess is it's so cheap, so it can really help children in areas
that are economically disadvantaged."
"Chess draws from
brain power, not experience.”
“Even when it is played
online, it is much better than video games or television”.
Chess players may be
convinced of chess' credentials, but could education experts be persuaded?
"Who believes in
knowledge acquisition - and chess is obviously a skill - can understand why it
would be a good thing to teach children. What would you lose instead?
In a curriculum already
subject to numerous priorities, chess may struggle to make the grade.
Thanks to Vanessa Barford
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