Chess teaches kids to focus, think ahead
Sue Cwikla
West Fargo Pioneer
Published Thursday, January 15, 2009
It might have been cold outside last Saturday morning, but students and families attending the F-M Scholastic Chess Tournament on January 10, at Cheney Middle School, spent the day warm and comfortable indoors. Sixty-four students from the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, Grand Forks, and Bismarck competed in the tournament.
This was the first time the tournament has been held in West Fargo. Organizers would like to see more clubs forming in West Fargo. Right now, there are chess clubs meeting regularly at South Elementary and Cheney Middle School. Saturday’s tournament included 13 students from Cheney, seven students from South Elementary, two students from L.E. Berger, and one student from Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center.
Involvement in area chess clubs tends to become a family affair for students and organizers alike. Eight-year-old Elijah Orvik, who serves as Cheney’s club manager, doesn’t play in the tournaments yet, but watches his brother Nick compete. Paul Heuer started helping organize chess tournaments in 1997 when his son competed in third grade. His son has since graduated from high school, but Heuer continues to be involved, downloading results into the computer during tournaments, and serving on the FM Chess Club’s Board of Directors. His father, Dr. Gerald Heuer has also served on the board for many years. Most of the coaches became involved when their sons or daughters joined the chess club.
Here is the full article.
Chess in education is needed in the US.