Making the right decisions

Nice move: City’s fourth graders given chess sets

By CHARLES McMAHON
Monday, February 2, 2009
Foster’s Daily Democrat – Dover, NH, USA

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Rotary continued a growing tradition Thursday as the civic group gathered in the Little Harbour gymnasium to present all the school’s fourth grade students with their own chess sets.

Rotarians, who are in only their second year of providing the sets, will spend the next week going to area elementary schools and presenting each fourth grader with a set, along with a strategy booklet and a tutorial chess set for each classroom.

The idea to provide the sets was brought about by Rotarian Ted Alex, who’s son Jeremy loved the game. Alex’s 28-year-old son, who struggled with drug addiction, disappeared in the Maine woods nearly four years ago.

Ever since, Ted Alex and his family have worked to commemorate his son’s life by teaching local students about making the right decisions, not only in the game of chess, but also in life.

Steve Schulten, Little Harbor physical education teacher and Chess Club coach, has helped lead fourth and fifth grade students in the game of chess over the past several years and led an instructional game Thursday with two students helping.

Schulten emphasized to students that the game isn’t about winning or losing, but getting a chance to practice strategy and focus on the task at hand.

“You don’t lose in chess, you learn,” Schulten said.

TJ Scott, 10, who was one of the dozens of fourth graders to get a chess set, said although he’s unsure why he likes the game, he enjoys playing it and loves being part of the school Chess Club.

Here is the full article.