Chess-In-The-Schools: The Royal Game
by Tom Kertes

The thousand-year argument continues to rage about chess being a sport (or not). But there can be no argument about the avalanche of benefits playing chess provides to public school children.

Without Chess-in-the-Schools, a nonprofit organization devoted to bringing chess programs to schools—and, in particular, to Title I. schools-in-need—none of these benefits would exist.

“We started out as the American Chess Foundation, way back in 1955,” CEO Marley Kaplan said. “But at that time we were entirely something else.” The mission of the ACF evolved from supporting American chess grandmasters to bringing chess to school children beginning in 1986. “It was the best move we ever made,” Kaplan said.

“Chess promotes focus, concentration, an ability to plan ahead, sportsmanship, and overall emotional intelligence in students,” according to Kaplan. “There have been a large number of psychological studies made, all supporting these conclusions.” Studies conducted in 1991 and 1996 also support the thesis that playing chess increases reading scores. In addition, anecdotal school data holds that children involved in chess do their homework better, behave better, and have superior attendance.

Chess-in-the-Schools teaches 38,000 students every school year in 160 elementary schools all over New York City. Chess, as a separate subject, is part of the regular school day. In addition, the organization is an after school program, “so that any kid, whether or not he or she happens to be in one of the classes that were chosen for chess, can come and learn to play,” Kaplan says.

One instructor, Chess-in-the-Schools has 53—works with 20 children on a once-a-week basis. “The instructors are all specifically trained by us, in an exhaustive 60 hour training program spread over two weeks,” says Kaplan. “In addition, they must attend refresher-seminars throughout the school year. These instructors don’t necessarily have to be chess grandmasters, though we have a few of those. But they do have to know how to play chess, love children, and be great communicators and exceptional teachers.” Chess-in-the-schools also offers alumni programs to high school students wishing to remain in the game, along with programs in academic tutoring and college preparation.

Though Chess-in-the-Schools is “really about creating better people rather than great chess players,” according to Kaplan, students involved in the program have won several national titles, including taking first place in every section in the recent Junior High School National Championships.

To show his appreciation of and support for the program, Mayor Michael Bloomberg co-sponsored the First Annual Mayor’s Cup Chess Tournament—held at the Tweed Courthouse, right across the street from City Hall. The twelve top Chess-in-the-Schools teams, including P.S 279, P.S. 124, and The Renaissance School, were invited to the exciting tournament.

The Mayor’s Cup champion turned out to be the team from C.E.S. 70 in the Bronx—but, the fact is, all the kids were winners. “This program is just fantastic,” Askia Davis, from the Department of Education Office of Strategic Partnerships, said. #

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