Math, Science, English, and Chess?
8:21 PM, May 26, 2011
Lexington, SC (WLTX) – Science, math, English, and chess? Some Midlands schools are adding the game of skill to their curriculum. But organizers say it’s more than just a game.
On Thursday, it wasn’t your typical scene in Saxe Gotha Elementary School’s library. Kids were hard at work trying to out think and out play their friends at chess.
Pedro de Abreu is the founder of a non-profit called the Check Mate Foundation ,which brings the game of chess to elementary schools. Lauren Roundtree is the foundation’s ambassador and has helped de Abreu develop and grow the organization.
“Chess is just really a medium through which we try to implement leadership and character,” said de Abreu. “The skills that they develop here are easily transported into other areas of their lives.”
De Abreu said he knows first hand how this game can transform the way kids think.
“I wasn’t really the best and the brightest kid until my cousin came up to me and he gave me a chess set. And that’s when things completely changed for me.”
Today de Abreu is a student at Midlands Technical College and was just named the 2011 New Century Scholar, one of only 50 recipients nationwide.
The semester long class wrapped up on Thursday with a tournament and 4th grader Morgan Reeves had a plan to win.
“Trying to do my best and win a trophy,” said Reeves. “You just gotta know where she’s gonna move, or he. And you just gottta follow him or her around until you get him or her in check mate.”
These kids might not know it yet but Pedro says that in the game of life, chess will give them an advantage.
“Chess will never be on the SAT. But the patience, analytical skills, the thinking skills, the ability to do those things will be skills that will be forever in demand.”
Some students say their math and science grades have gone up since playing chess.
De Abreu’s hope is that the Check Mate Foundation will eventually be in every elementary school in the state. Currently they’re at River Springs in Irmo and Saxe Gotha.
For further information about the foundation, click here.
Source: http://www.wltx.com
I don’t like all this promote chess in schools beacuase it’s good for kids learning rubbish. Chess should be played beacause kids like it and want to play it. Healthy eating is really good for kids, but there’s no talk of making that compulsory or even encouraging kids to look at their diet. They serve junk food to kids and talk about the benefits of chess?
Hi Susan Polgar,
Playing chess game,on chess board,will by all means improves and trains every individual to employ their mind for betterment but caution must always to be,not to adapt acceptance,only for win, in life.
Life is not,like the lifeless pieces on the chess board.In life, not all wins,gives pleasure,at times even a draw /lose may give pleasure of win,in life.
Conclusively,compulsory chess game on chess board is healthy for students,if it stops at the stage of getting the mind trained for its betterment without losing humane in life.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]