I believe it shouls be taught in schools, my 5y/o is learning and she loves it!! And if my other children become interested I will teach them too!!!

 So, it seems that there is some movement in some small degree. Thanks! Other's observations about the "Praxis of this (unfortunate but promising) educational wannabe-subsystem"?

 Sorry, I didn't understand! "chessdadx2", you are the chess teacher of your daughter?

i am still in high school and i believe Chess should be a class for people. It teaches to look at the possibltities, and uses the brain. It's been proven to increase people's logic and helps them on standrized tests.

How important should it be to a young child whether they win or lose at Chess?

Ellbert wrote: How important should it be to a young child whether they win or lose at Chess?

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Well, you´re not quite right. It indeed isn´t very important to win or lose (however, to win gives a child much self-convience), but children should think more.

And what´s better: play murder´games or play chess at the computer?
I agree children should be more outside the house and sport, but chess is good for their minds.

 Play chess at the computer is not as attractive as playing against a human opponent... The majority of the chessplayers I know is much more motivated then. However computer is a superb analyst and valuable assistant, almost necessary! So chess has another advantage, it protects a mimimum of sociability and socialization and it is open to technology too.

i believe dekker is comparing computer chess against playing Nintendo.  OTB chess is not a compatible substitute because, although it is better, it requires some planning, travel, and initiative. 

Chess is a requsite in most Russian Elementary Schools. This is not because they want to increase the pool of Russian Grand Masters; rather, as an exercise in communication and listening skills. It's quite simple: when an opponent makes a move it forces the player to focus on the reason behind a particular move (silence of listening). Chess as we all know is a two sided game. And in life it not one sided either..YES!!! it should be taught in school but for the reasons aforementioned.  And if a GM should be developed from this...so be it! 

hondoham wrote:

i believe dekker is comparing computer chess against playing Nintendo.  OTB chess is not a compatible substitute because, although it is better, it requires some planning, travel, and initiative. 

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NO I´M NOT! I understand your reaction but no. And i know it wouldn´t be easy, if you live in the Netherlands.

 Why Dekker? Dutch Chess is extremely advanced and I 've seen even games of Dutch "amateurs" against famous players (from tournaments in Netherlands) at (in?) the pages of Informator!! For instance there is a wonderful game in the (Sicilian) Dragon: NUNN (2590) - Van der Tuuk (?), Utrecht 1986 "(42/245)". Great fighting!!

 Anyway what's OTB chess?

 To my opinion Chiefster made a very good point above! I mean that "precise reasoning" is not useful only for mathematicians, physicists and engineers, it's necessary for managers (see Aquaman's comment), attorneys, members of a jury, police investigators and almost everybody... But e.g. a D.A. needs not to Know Calculus, Linear Algebra, Theory of Groups or Quantum Mechanics! It would be not a crime if he did but how to work on these during his working life? Why chess then for the manager or the member of the jury? Read (carefully, as a chessplayer!) the posts above and you will find a lot of arguments!

The American educational systems are crap. They barely teach proper geography- oh wait they don't. Chess in school is a great idea, but if America can't get basic education right, I doubt chess will be thrown into the mix. I should know as I recently graduated and I can tell you most of the teenagers in my city have no idea of world events, or where Iraq is on a map.... And don't even get me started on voting.... On the bright side, you could get a chess program started at the school. I doubt the idiot cliques(spelling?) have set in yet so you could get lots of participation.

cunctatorg wrote:

 Why Dekker? Dutch Chess is extremely advanced and I 've seen even games of Dutch "amateurs" against famous players (from tournaments in Netherlands) at (in?) the pages of Informator!! For instance there is a wonderful game in the (Sicilian) Dragon: NUNN (2590) - Van der Tuuk (?), Utrecht 1986 "(42/245)". Great fighting!!

 Anyway what's OTB chess?

 To my opinion Chiefster made a very good point above! I mean that "precise reasoning" is not useful only for mathematicians, physicists and engineers, it's necessary for managers (see Aquaman's comment), attorneys, members of a jury, police investigators and almost everybody... But e.g. a D.A. needs not to Know Calculus, Linear Algebra, Theory of Groups or Quantum Mechanics! It would be not a crime if he did but how to work on these during his working life? Why chess then for the manager or the member of the jury? Read (carefully, as a chessplayer!) the posts above and you will find a lot of arguments!

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At first:
Well thanks from all the Dutch people

But i didn´t mean it like that. I mean, you maybe know that people from the Netherlands like their money, and the leaders of the country do too. So, because of the money, not because we haven´t got enough checkers!

Though thanks for the reaction

 Don't give credits to me, give thanks to Van der Tuuk and others. Give credits too to Johann Cruyff (!!!) and (the late) Rinus Mikhels(?!)... By the way I have to express my frustration about the poor play of the Dutch at the Euro soccer match Netherlands-Russia: 1-3....... They ruined (with the help of the Russians at the next round) the whole tournament!!... Shame to you...... GGGGGGrrrrrhhhh...

 My apologies too for my expressed opinion about Max Euwe's ranking among WCC and colleagues! But I liked very much the Chess of Jan Timman!

 Netherlands is GREAT in Chess and all branches of Physics despite the comparatively small population! With respect to that, Iceland and Baltic States (chess) are much more advanced!!! Iceland especially is comitting a real miracle!!!

 Sorry but I am not sur I am getting your point... If possible, try to explain again having in mind that I am stupid...

Oh, well, i didnt know either what i was meaning

And thanks for all the credits you gave to the Netherlands

Chess should be mandatory for elementary school students, so I'll finally have more friends.