|
|
CHESS IN SCHOOL |
‘Chess is the gymnasium of the mind’ Goethe
We couldn’t have said it any better....At AstroChess, we love the royal game
for many reasons. One of those reasons is that it offers so much to children
and young people.
Although difficult to play well, chess is relatively straightforward to learn.
Most first or second graders can follow the basic rules. Sometimes kids even
as young as four or five can play. One can learn to play at any age, and unlike
many other sports, one never has to give up chess because of age. Young
and old can play together, age is not a factor. Nor is gender of importance
in playing chess. Boys and girls can play together, competing amongst and
against each other in a friendly social environment. Chess enhances social
skills as you interact with others who share their love for the game.
The game also challenges perseverance and sportsmanship as you play in
a competitive environment. Chess is a universal language and most
tournaments welcome players of all abilities. To the serious tournament
player, it provides numerous opportunities to travel around the country,
and even around the world. As social as the game is, chess also teaches
independence: it forces you to make important decisions influenced only
by your own judgment, and to accept the consequences of your actions.
Other than being all of the above, chess also helps develop the mind,
especially the mind of young people. Many studies have proven conclusively
that playing chess improves school results substantially. In close to 30
countries, chess is now required as part of the school curriculum.
Evidently, chess, as ‘the gymnasium of the mind’ keeps the mind sharp.
It forces you to think critically. Among other things, it develops
the memory, as students learn different variations and recognize patterns
on the board. Chess develops logical thinking and critical judgment.
During the game, players must formulate a plan of attack and defense.
In order to do so, a player must perform a systematic checking of possible
combinations of moves and then arrive at an evaluation of each possibility.
This process of learning to play according to a certain strategic plan,
requires a great deal of concentration. On the board, chess teaches
the rewards of concentration, while it also provides immediate penalties
for any lapses in concentration. Few teaching tools provide such immediate
feedback.
Yet, chess is not just a game of established patterns and strict algorithms.
Although the development of a game tends to follow general principles, there
is rarely a unique ‘best’ way to play any given position. The game rewards
creativity, and helps develop one’s imagination, encouraging us to test
the boundaries of our own mind.
|
|