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A CLASS GAMBIT
Albany Democrat Herald
http://democratherald.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-a-class-gambit/article_9c436d2a-785f-11e1-a608-0019bb2963f4.html
March 28 2012
Since we're always talking about education reform in Oregon, here's
an idea from Armenia: Make chess a compulsory subject in grade schools.
That's what they've done in that small country, a former Soviet
republic sandwiched between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and between Georgia
and Iran.
The Internet news program European Journal reports on the development
in its current edition. It quotes the leader of a public school and
others about the hoped-for benefits of the new requirement.
They expect the pupils to learn logic and the ability to plan ahead,
along with flexibility to meet unexpected moves, and certainly
patience, self-discipline and nerve. The one who loses his nerve first
loses the game, one of the children earnestly says on the program.
Chess apparently is the Armenian national sport. The country has
produced dozens of grandmasters. So it seems like a natural subject
in Armenian schools.
In Oregon, not so much. Still, if our kids could sit still long enough,
learning chess moves and tactics might help them in everything else
they're supposed to learn. (hh)
Albany Democrat Herald
http://democratherald.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-a-class-gambit/article_9c436d2a-785f-11e1-a608-0019bb2963f4.html
March 28 2012
Since we're always talking about education reform in Oregon, here's
an idea from Armenia: Make chess a compulsory subject in grade schools.
That's what they've done in that small country, a former Soviet
republic sandwiched between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and between Georgia
and Iran.
The Internet news program European Journal reports on the development
in its current edition. It quotes the leader of a public school and
others about the hoped-for benefits of the new requirement.
They expect the pupils to learn logic and the ability to plan ahead,
along with flexibility to meet unexpected moves, and certainly
patience, self-discipline and nerve. The one who loses his nerve first
loses the game, one of the children earnestly says on the program.
Chess apparently is the Armenian national sport. The country has
produced dozens of grandmasters. So it seems like a natural subject
in Armenian schools.
In Oregon, not so much. Still, if our kids could sit still long enough,
learning chess moves and tactics might help them in everything else
they're supposed to learn. (hh)