All education systems have some failure, small or heavy. This is especially true for "Lessons of Precise Reasoning" like Mathematics, Physics etc.
Chess is something in-between Precises Sciences and Arts, see Korchnoi's "Chess is my Life".
Did you ever consider any use of chess in high-school education? I mean that Calculus is not "always" useful or necessary but the ability for (precise) reasoning almost is! See Korchnoi's book too!
Did you ever consider to use chess, chess clubs and tournaments etc. for the education of your children at least?
Could you explain a little more about,"all education systems have some failure, small or heavy." Failure how?
Well, first of all I wouldn't recommend taking calculus out of the high school curriculum. Also: calculus (and mathematics in general) does teach precise reasoning - that's what the whole subject is all about! I certainly do not think that chess is more "useful or necessary" than calculus.
Having said that, yes I do believe chess should be taught in schools. At the very least it should be introduced as a legitimate extra-curricular activity, with a status on par with volleyball or basketball. I learned to play chess as a kid. I think it is a worthwhile thing for children to learn.
Thank you for explaining, Lanceuppercut 239. Hello, Feldmm 1 what do you think of Chess as a legitimate extra-curricular activity?
I am still a teen - I absolutely love chess, and would be thrilled to have it at school.
I remember in elementary school that there was a chess club, and it was quite popular. Unfortunately the teacher moved away, and it was shut down.
However, I loved it while it lasted! It was a great way to meet people, and it taught me a lot of skills - patience, observation, and looking ahead. These have been ever so important in my normal life, as well as school life.
I believe chess should most definitely be taught in schools!
Some pupils -some...- are used to dislike Knowledge and even systematic work! Of course these pupils end absolutely unfamiliar with the lessons of the curriculum. The percentage of pupils who end hating Physics, Mathematics etc. is not negligible, instead is very high everywhere. I believe that this is some failure.
I don't believe that is feasible by any means, even chess, for every pupil to be made skillful in "precise reasoning" or loving systematic, responsible work but it's worthwhile to try raising the percentage.
Clearly it was not my point to suggest taking Calculus or Elementary Newtonian Mechanics out of the High-School Curriculum! Every respectable System of Education has to educate well some pupils at Mathematics, Physics and other "precise sciences" and almost everybody (at least some respectable minority!) at "precise reasoning". It is -and was- clear enough that Mathematics are the Kingdom of "precise reasoning"...
But "precise reasoning" is not a county of Mathematics! It is more general, useful far beyond Calculus and Geometry - if not universally useful.
What happens in practice in USA, Sweeden or Greece with respect the success of this very teaching?!? Does the majority of pupils really obtain some connection to these, do they learn to love or respect Mathematics and generally "precise reasoning" and systematic work? Or is there some hope for future developments in this area? I believe that my point is now - at least- clear enough.
Does the majority of pupils really obtain some connection to these, do they learn to love or respect Mathematics and generally "precise reasoning" and systematic work? Or is there some hope for future developments in this area?
You make a very good point here. Of course most pupils do not retain a love for math or science after completing their high school education - there definitely is room for improvement.
All up you propose a very interesting question. Should chess be included in education? Yes! Absolutely yes! Chess, like mathemathics or any other form of 'higher order thinking skills' are quantative in there nature.
By quantative, I mean it requires the infamous 'hemispheric jump' from one side or portion of the brain to the other where it can be perceived in a completely different and new way.
One of the problems we have in the USA, especially in secondary education, is using the proper means to get students motivated to learn math building skills.
I believe that chess would be a great intermediary for two reasons: (1) Students could be easily 'clicked' into learning the game. Just as Mikaboy was saying; social reasons, relational reasons, then the who Maslow thing. Secondly, just as lanceuppercut_239 stated and I have an extremely strong commitment to is the notion that chess needs to be offered at the very least as extra-curricular activity.
Just on more small note (with rant included!); Since the 'Progressive Era' in education and I speak of the late 1950s through the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, the curriculum changes and modifications made for whatever reasons has proven to be inadequate. That's all folks!
pc
Thanks for your posts and your attention to my real point.
"Look Behind You" is a geographical or "relational" domain in USA?
the problem with chess in HIGH school as an extracurricular activity is that many people who enjoy playing sports won't be able to participate. extracurricular activities have to pull from a pool of students who are able to participate in extracurricular activities. by high school, this pool is mostly kids who play sports. the child is only half of the equation with the parents carrying the other half. non-sports clubs play second fiddle to sports with youth time. math and science clubs at my school survived by only gathering at the competition itself. this was feasible because the math and science teachers have access to the students during the school day. Preparation for the events were done during class. if the math club teacher had insisted on more afterschool practices, we would have lost at least half the team to sports. There are no "chess" classes offered during school so a chess club can't follow this model. Grades 3rd through 8th are more appropriate for chess clubs in my opinion.
I think a general business class based on chess might be interesting. A few examples.
Overloading as it pertains to staffing. If you have one person or job category looking after too many things, the business can be at risk.
Developing chess pieces analogous to building teams.
Mating attack as it pertains to product strategies and project planning. In the hyper fast technology pace today, and customer demands on speed, quality, price, companies don't have time or resources to spend on backup strategies. They have to figure out when and where they can win and go all in against their competitors. But they'd better get it right; understand their strengths and weaknesses relative to their competitors, understand the critical path, and don't play lines that they can't win.
Business majors may have other or better ideas.
I completely agree. Most children in my class don´t play chess and they really should do. At a other school in my village, they do chess tournaments, but not in my school. VERY BAD!!!
However, i think English, Dutch, Geography, History, Maths, Economy and... Chess! A good combination.
yeah, my IQ increased also, from 127 till 148...
One difficullty is the "competition" with sports if there is a unique zone of extracurricular activities. That would be an unhealthy and even "disastrous" dilemma! Obliged to "hondoham" for the observation.
Another failure, rather disaster, is the mandatory state. As an analogy, think of a mandatory piano (or violin...) lesson at the Curriculum of the secondary education: I love very much Classical Music but I have neither the skills nor the time (some -very small for me- Hierarchy problem) to learn musical instruments, composition etc. Wasted time if not some kind of ... concetration (rather deafening) camp, namely a pedagogic disaster... Useful observation by "Okonov" and here the positive results of the conversation.
Maybe a (natural and rational) solution is to have at least two different zones of extracurricular activities, one dedicated to physical sports (dance included?) and another dedicated to mental, cultural etc. extracurricular activities. I think of music, poetry writing (?), theatre, journalism, chess , die-hard backgammon (for a few?) etc.
Clearly the whole thing becomes more and more difficult and complicated, e.g. in my country there is none extracurricular activity at the high-school, there is no time for this. Another serious problem is the proper education of the relevant teachers, budgets, work positions, selection procedures etc. Another problem is the ideas and ideologies (and almost complete lack of creative and analytical thought) of many secondary education theorists, see Feynman's popular books.
Anyway, there is an important inherent dynamics in this pedagogy approach: the real teacher is not only the official teacher (and a few pupils in the classroom) but every opponent (or "comrade in arms" for the ... "light-siders") at chessgames, especially chess tournaments and even in the analysis, see the daily puzzles here.
Any possibility for Chess in Education and -if the answer is positive- HOW? This is a necessary reformulation of the topic question.
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